Mahwah, N.J. (4/20/13) – Senior Nick Ramagli and Junior Joe O'Connor combined for five extra base hits and 10 RBI as the #2/3 Kean University baseball team swept #14/20 Ramapo College by the finals of 18-2 and 8-7 Saturday afternoon in NJAC action.
Kean stands alone atop of the NJAC standings with an 11-2 conference record, three games ahead of their competitors. They also boast an overall record of 27-6 riding a six game win streak and 13 of their last 14. The loss drops the Roadrunners into fifth place in the conference standings with a 7-6-1 mark, they are 22-8-1 overall this season.
Leading 6-1 in game one, the Cougars exploded for nine runs in the sixth inning to put the game out of reach. Rookie Ryan Reitmeyer started off the frame with a four pitch walk. He would later come around to score on an RBI single from freshman Michael Kendall. This would be the start of a six hit burst, aided by two Ramapo miscues, pushing the lead out to 15-1.
Highlighting the offense in game one, Ramagli finished with a 3-for-4 day with three runs scored, two RBI and two doubles. O'Connor was 2-for-2 with two RBI, two runs scored, a triple and two walks.
On the mound, junior Nick Zucchero improved to 3-0 with a six inning performance. Zucchero allowed just two runs and six hits with two walks and two strikeouts. Rookie Emilio Calderon picked up the three inning save allowing just one hit the rest of the way with three strikeouts.
Game two was a trade off of big innings as Kean erased a 1-0 deficit with a three run third inning. Ramagli provided an RBI single while O'Connor connected on his second homerun of the season, a two run blast. Ramapo responded and took the lead right back with a four run outburst in the bottom of the same frame. Dave Jacob followed back-to-back bunt singles with an RBI single to center. Brandon Berget rounded out the scoring with a two RBI single down the leftfield line, putting the Roadrunners on top, 5-3.
That lead didn't last long as Kean took it right back, this time for good with a five run fourth. Freshman Matt Meleo lined a single up the middle for his second RBI of the day. Sophomore Andy Lopez provided a one-out single through the left side to knot the game at five-all. Ramagli then gave Kean the lead for good with a two RBI double down the line. After swiping third, O'Connor added to his RBI total with a single.
The Roadrunners didn't go quietly, plating two in the eighth all with two outs. Christian Spurr and Chris Werr each provided RBI doubles to come within one, but reliever Vinny Zanfordino was able to work out of the jam to hold on for the win.
Zanfordino picked up his third win of the season as he tossed six and a third innings of relief. Zanfordino (3-0) allowed two runs and five hits with two walks and four strikeouts.
Lopez finished with a team-best three hits, while Ramagli tallied three RBI with two hits and two stolen bases. O'Connor recorded three RBI with two hits and a homerun.
The Cougars return to NJAC action on Thursday when they host Richard Stockton College at 3:30 p.m.