Camden, N.J. (4/25/15) – Rutgers-Camden used a shutout in game one and a nail-biter in extra innings in game two to sweep the Kean University baseball team by the finals of 7-0 and 3-2.
With the sweep Camden takes the regular season NJAC title with a 14-4 conference mark (20-14 overall). With the loss Kean falls into a three-way tie for second place with Rowan University and Ramapo College (all with 12-6 records). By virtue of Kean's record among the tied teams (3-1), the Cougars take the second seed, with Ramapo finishing third and Rowan fourth. Montclair State takes the fifth seed with 10-8 record and The College of New Jersey rounds out the field with a 9-9 record.
Game One
The Scarlet Raptors used a balanced scoring attack in the opener posting a single run in the second, two runs in the third, two more in the fifth and a two spot in the eighth. Kean was held at bay even though they recorded eight hits on the day. Camden starter Billy Jackson, who tossed the complete game shutout, didn't allow a runner past second.
Jackson improved to 4-1 as he tallied five strikeouts and a walk.
Offensively for the Cougars, junior Ryan Kelley was 3-for-4 while rookie Matt Krupa was 2-for-4 with a double. For the Scarlet Raptors, leadoff hitter Brett Tenuto was 3-for-5 with an RBI and two runs scored.
Game Two
It was the Cougars turn to get on the board first in the nightcap as Kean jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the third. Catcher James Lyczkowski reached on a one out single and moved to second on a groundout. With two outs, Tyler Heisch found the hole for an RBI single and a 1-0 lead. Kelley was hit by a pitch to extend the inning and junior Sal Taormina found the gap to make it 2-0. Camden chipped away and scored a single run in the fifth with a two out RBI single and tied the game up at two-all in the seventh with a sacrifice fly.
In the bottom of the 12th with runners on second and third and one out, the Cougars elected for an intentional walk to load the bases for the force out opportunity. Reliever Vinny Zanfordino then picked up a key strikeout for out number two. Billy Jackson then hit a ball deep in the hole at short. Shortstop Ryan Reitmeyer made a great diving play to keep the ball in the infield and had only one chance at second for the force out but Connor Hall beat the throw by a half step. That allowed Jon Theckston to cross the plate with the winning run, earning the sweep.
Lyczkowski and Heisch each had two hits in the nightcap for the Cougars.
Kean heads into the NJAC Tournament where they will face Montclair State University on Tuesday, April 28th at 3:30 p.m. The rest of the tournament then shifts to Jim Hynes Stadium for its entirety with games scheduled for May 1-3.
As with all NJAC Tournament games tickets must be sold. Adults are $5 with children, students and seniors at $2. All sales are cash only.