Union, N.J. (3/1/13) – Junior Joe O'Connor laced an RBI triple in the bottom of the 11th to break a one-all deadlock and send the #7/10 Kean University baseball team past Neumann University on Friday afternoon.
With one out in the 11th, senior Nick Ramagli got things started with a single. O'Connor then lined a 0-2 pitch into the gap, plating the winning run.
Sophomore Charles Thielmann (2-0) earned the win in relief as he allowed just one batter to reach in four and two thirds innings of work, fanning seven. Thielmann entered the game in the seventh with one out and a runner on first. He recorded two fly ball outs to end the threat.
Neumann (4-1) tied the game in the seventh as senior Will Flores led off the frame with a single up the middle. After swiping second, he advanced to third on a single off the bat of senior Bill Pace. Senior Tyler Drinkard then tied the contest up with an RBI single up the middle on a drawn-in infield.
Kean (4-1) scored the first run of the game in their first at-bat as junior Tyler Smarslok led off the bottom of the first with a double. Sophomore Andy Lopez quickly followed with an RBI single, giving the Cougars a 1-0 lead.
The score would remain that way as both starters (who factored into no-decisions) were locked in a tight pitchers' duel. Senior Sam Fourre allowed five hits in six and a third innings, and recorded 16 consecutive outs spanning the first and sixth innings. Senior southpaw Matt Spillman put up almost identical numbers as he allowed five hits in six and two thirds innings of work. Spillman struck out six.
The top of the Cougar order provided six of the eight hits on the afternoon as Smarslok, Lopez and Ramagli each registered two hits apiece. Flores was the only Knight with a multi hit day as he finished 2-for-4 with a run scored.
Rookie Kristian Deluzio suffered the loss for Neumann. Deluzio (1-1) entered the game in the bottom of the 11th.
The Cougars return to action on Saturday when they host FDU-Florham at noon.