Union, N.J. (4/19/14) – The Kean University baseball team picked up their seventh straight NJAC win and third straight series sweep as they topped Ramapo College by the scores of 9-4 & 7-3 Saturday afternoon at Jim Hynes Stadium.
Sophomore Ryan Reitmeyer was a combined 4-for-7 and was a homerun shy of the cycle in game one as the Cougars improved to 25-8 overall and 10-4 in the NJAC with four conference games remaining. Kean is now in a three-way tie for the NJAC lead as Rowan and Rutgers-Camden also stand with 10-4 records.
Game One
Ramapo (18-11-1, 6-7-1) got things going in a hurry in game one as leadoff hitter Jose Garcia lined a double on the first pitch of the day. A bunt base hit from Scott Shields had runners on the corners. After a popup out, it was Ian Osterman's turn with an RBI double to right to push across the game's first run. Chris Werr hit into a fielder's choice, but that was enough to add another run as Ramapo held a 2-0 lead.
It was Kean's turn in the second as sophomore Sal Taormina found real estate in center for a one-out triple. One out later, Reitmeyer then traded places with him as he tripled down the line to scratch across a run for Kean. The Cougars took the lead for good with a four spot in the bottom of the fourth. Kean used four straight hits to start the inning as Reitmeyer was the first to pick up an RBI in the frame. Junior Andy Lopez closed out the scoring in the inning with Kean's fifth hit in the fourth, a two RBI single.
The Roadrunners edged their way back with two runs in their next at-bat, taking advantage of three walks issued. Kean put the game away with three runs in the eighth, all without the benefit of a hit to seal the game one win.
Relief pitcher Chris Amato (2-2) earned the win. He tossed four and a third innings allowing no runs and four hits with one walk and three strikeouts. Starter Kevin Lee (3-2) suffered the loss for Ramapo. He allowed six runs in four and a third innings.
For the Cougars, Reitmeyer was 3-for-3 with a double and triple while Taormina was 2-for-4 with two runs scored. For the Roadrunners, Werr had three hits and three RBI.
Game Two
Kean paced the entire second game, scoring in four separate innings, including the first three to take the nightcap.
Junior Matt Mantione tossed a complete game, allowing three runs (all in the ninth) and 11 hits. Mantione (4-2) struck out seven and walked four.
The Cougars plated two runs in the first inning, aided by four walks that forced the Roadrunners to go into the bullpen early. Kean jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the third as Lopez started off the inning with a ground-rule double off the fence and senior Joe O'Connor followed with a monster line-drive homerun to right, his second in as many days.
Kean pushed the advantage out to seven in the seventh as it was Taormina's turn, this time a two run shot to left.
Ramapo made a late charge to erase the shutout with three runs in the ninth. Garcia provided a two RBI triple in the frame.
Offensively, O'Connor and Taormina each finished with three RBI in the nightcap while Garcia recorded three hits and two RBI in the loss.
Kean will head to SUNY College at Old Westbury on Tuesday in a rescheduled contest.