Union, N.J. (4/4/15) – Junior Ryan Reitmeyer was a combined 5-for-7 with 8 RBI and consecutive homeruns, including a grand slam, as the #5 Kean University baseball team split with Montclair State University on Saturday in NJAC action.
Kean powered their way to an 11-2 win in the opener before falling in extras in the nightcap, 5-3.
Game One
MSU (8-10, 3-3) was the first to get on the board in the opener after taking advantage of a throwing miscue in the second inning. Kevin Alonso tallied a one-out RBI double to push across a single run.
In the bottom of the third with runners on the corners and two outs, Kean's Matt Krupa lined a triple to right for two RBI, giving Kean the lead for good. The Cougars (19-5, 4-2 NJAC) didn't stop there, as Ryan Kelley followed with an RBI double and Reitmeyer rounded out the frame with an RBI single for a 4-1 lead.
In their half of the fifth, junior Sal Taormina welcomed relief pitcher Mike Matazarro with a single down the first base line. Krupa followed with a single through the left side and Kelley loaded the bases with a bunt single. That set up Reitmeyer who lofted the first pitch he saw over the wall in left for the grand slam and 8-1 advantage.
Krupa led off the seventh with a double to left center and Reitmeyer again saw his pitch sail over the leftfield wall to push the gap further at 10-2.
In all, Kean compiled seven extra-base hits, with a total of 14 hits in the opener. Reitmeyer was 3-for-3 with 7 RBI while Krupa and Taormina each recorded three hits.
Not to be the lost in the action was the starting performance by senior Charles Thielmann (3-1) who struck out 13 Red Hawks in eight innings of work. He scattered 10 hits and allowed just one earned run.
The Red Hawks, who tallied 11 hits total in the opener, stranded 12 runners on base.
Game Two
MSU again was the first to jump out on top, plating two runs in the top of the first. With two outs and no one aboard, Chris Reynolds reached after a Cougar throwing error. Keith Murphy took advantage and produced a hustle double as his hit fell in the outfield triangle in the second game of gusty wind conditions, putting both runners in scoring position. Matt Long then lined a single, scoring both, for a quick 2-0 lead.
The Cougars chipped away and scored single runs in the second, fifth and sixth to eventually tie and take the lead. It was Reitmeyer again in the second with a two out, RBI single up the middle, scoring Taormina who started off the inning with a walk. Reitmeyer crossed the plate in the fifth to tie the game after reaching on a single to start the inning. Junior Matt Meleo placed a perfect bunt to drive him in. An overzealous throw in the sixth inning, trying to get Taormina at third, led to him scoring and giving Kean a 3-2 lead.
The score would remain that way until the ninth inning rally by MSU. With one out, Hector Gonzalez recorded an infield single. Chris Reynolds then lofted a long, fly ball out to left center field that was deep enough for Gonzalez to tag from first, moving him into scoring position with two outs. Murphy kept the Red Hawks alive with a single through the right side, tying the game at three-all.
MSU then took the lead for good in the top of the 11th as Ryan Long registered a one-out single. After swiping second, Reynolds then found real estate with a double in the gap for the go-ahead run. Murphy added insurance with an RBI single and what would be the final of 5-3.
Austin Minton earned the win in relief. Minton (2-1) tossed two innings, allowing just one hit. Junior Vinny Zanfordino (1-2) suffered the loss after allowing three runs, and five hits in three innings of work.
Murphy led the Red Hawks with a 4-for-6 nightcap performance while Taormina, Reitmeyer and Chris Amato each had two hits for Kean.
The Cougars will return to action on Monday when they host Moravian College in a rescheduled matchup at 3:30 p.m.