Union, N.J. (3/17/13) – The Kean University baseball team outlasted #12 Keystone College in a tight pitchers' duel by the final of 1-0 Sunday afternoon in a key regional matchup.
The win is the 10th straight for the Cougars over Keystone, dating back to 2008. The #8 Cougars improve to 10-4 while Keystone falls to 11-5 this season.
Senior Kevin Herget prevailed in the pitchers' duel as he tossed a complete game shutout. Herget (2-1) scattered six hits and two walks while fanning seven. Senior Rob Rogers suffered the tough loss after a complete game effort with one unearned run. Rogers (2-1) struck out eight and walked two, allowing seven hits.
Kean would score what would be the only run of the afternoon in their half of the third. Sophomore James Lyczkowski got things started with a one out single straight up the middle. Rookie Matt Meleo followed with a perfectly placed infield single, putting runners at first and second. Junior Tyler Smarslok then grounded out, but moved the runners, putting both in scoring position. Sophomore Andy Lopez then chopped a ball that to most would have gone up the middle. Rogers, however, snared the ball behind his back, for what appeared to be an inning-ending play. The flip to first however could not be handled, allowing Lyczkowski to score from third for the only run of the day.
Herget worked out of trouble on a couple of occasions. In the top of the third, Herget got out of a one-out jam with runners at second and third forcing an infield popup and a one of his seven strikeouts of the day to end the inning. In the sixth he stranded a runner at third with a groundout to end the inning. The final threat came in the eighth with runners on first and third and one out. An alert Lyczkowski caught Jose Garcia drifting off third on a squeeze attempt at the plate and tagged Garcia out in the rundown for the second out of the inning. Herget then got another groundout to end the inning.
Senior Nick Ramagli was the only player from either team with a multi-hit day as he was 3-for-4 with a stolen base.
Kean heads to the road on Monday when they are scheduled to take on York College (Pa.) at 3:30 p.m.