Camden, N.J. (3/30/13) – The #5/6 Kean University baseball team split in their first two games of the NJAC schedule by falling 3-0 in the opener and winning 4-2 in the nightcap against Rutgers-Camden on Saturday afternoon.
The opener belonged to the Scarlet Raptors (13-8, 1-1 NJAC) as junior southpaw Ryan Farabella fired a complete game, one hit, shutout. He allowed just one single, a clean shot through the hole by pinch-hitter Ryan Reitmeyer in the eighth frame. Farabella (3-0) fanned eight and walked one in the win.
Senior Kevin Herget (2-2) was the hard luck loser as he tossed six and two thirds innings allowing just one earned run with seven strikeouts and three walks.
Camden put together a two-out rally in their half of the fourth after Herget got the first two batters out with swinging strikeouts. Back-to-back singles set up Luis Maldonado's RBI single for a 1-0 lead. A two-RBI single by senior Dave Prager added two unearned runs in the fifth to set up all the scoring Rutgers-Camden would need in game one, winning by the final of 3-0. The shutout is the first for Kean since April 20 of last season.
In game two, Kean (16-5, 1-1 NJAC) rallied from a 1-0 deficit to plate four in the fourth. Rookie Salvatore Taormina started off the frame with a double and scored two batters later with an RBI single by freshman Ryan Kelley. Rookie Matt Meleo scratched across another run with an RBI bunt that scored two, thanks to an errant throw. Junior Tyler Smarslok rounded out the scoring with an RBI single that was lost in the sun.
Sophomore Charles Thielmann earned the save after entering in the seventh with two runners on and one out. He was able to pitch out of the jam by inducing a fly out and strikeout. In all he tossed two and two thirds inning allowing one run and three hits, fanning three to pick up his third save of the season.
Senior Sam Fourre improved to 4-1 after tossing an efficient six and a third innings allowing just one unearned run and five hits. He walked no one and struck out four.
The Cougars return to confines of Jim Hynes Stadium and will face the College of Staten Island on Tuesday, April 2nd at 3:30 p.m.