Old Westbury, N.Y. (4/22/14) – The #8 Kean University baseball team used a three run first inning to take a lead they would not relinquish on their way to defeating SUNY College at Old Westbury by the final of 6-4 Tuesday afternoon.
Senior Nick Zucchero (4-0) picked up the win as he tossed five plus innings allowing four runs and six hits. He fanned five and walked two. Sophomore reliever Vinny Zanfordino earned his fourth save of the year as he threw four innings allowing just three hits along the way.
Kean (26-8) jumped on top in their first at-bat, plating three runs all with two outs. Sophomore Ryan Kelley was the first to get things going as he reached first via an infield error. Junior Andy Lopez followed with a single and senior Joe O'Connor made it 1-0 with an RBI single through the left side. A walk to sophomore Sal Taormina loaded the bases for classmate Ryan Reitmeyer who delivered with a two RBI single and a quick 3-0 lead.
The Cougars made it 4-0 in the fourth as sophomore Matt Meleo recorded an RBI single up the middle with two outs to plate Reitmeyer who led off the inning by being hit by a pitch.
Both teams traded single runs over the next two innings, before Old Westbury got within one with a two spot in the sixth. Kean gave themselves an insurance run in the top of the seventh as Kelley and Lopez reached via singles and O'Connor walked to load the bases. Taormina then lofted a sacrifice fly for what would be the final score of 6-4.
O'Connor was 2-for-2 with a double, two runs scored and two walks. Taormina and Reitmeyer each drove in two.
Kean returns to the final regular season games of the NJAC slate on Thursday when they travel to Richard Stockton College for a 3:30 p.m. matchup.