Union, N.J. (4/2/16) – Southpaw Richie Ferguson tossed a 12 inning complete game to power the Kean University baseball team to a conference opening sweep of #20/26 The College of New Jersey, 2-1 and 7-4 on Saturday afternoon.
Ferguson (3-2) ties a program single-game mark with his 12 innings pitched with former Cougars Dan Zeffiro and Matt Mantione. In today's action, Ferguson allowed just one run and nine hits with four strikeouts and two walks.
Game One
The Cougars (12-9, 2-0 NJAC) officially struck first with a single run in the sixth. With two outs, senior Sal Taormina started the rally with a single. Sophomore Matt Krupa followed with a double and Andy Lopez extended the inning by reaching via a throwing miscue that allowed Taormina to score.
TCNJ (14-4, 0-2 NJAC) got the run back quickly as Pat Roberts led off the seventh with a solo shot off the scoreboard to knot the game back up at one-all.
The score would remain that way until the 12th as both starters were locked in a tight pitchers' duel. In the winning frame, catcher Brian Cole got aboard with a one out bloop single behind third. Junior Tyler Heisch followed with a single up the middle and later in the inning with two outs, Taormina delivered the game-winning RBI with a single to right center.
Taormina was 4-for-6 for the Cougars.
TCNJ starter Steven Volpe received a no-decision after tossing 10 innings allowing one unearned run with 10 hits, one walk and one strikeout. Reliever Matt Curry (1-1) suffered the loss.
Game Two
After see-sawing through the early innings, the Cougars were able to take the lead for good in the sixth on back-to-back singles from seniors Andy Lopez and Ryan Reitmeyer to start the inning. Both runners moved into scoring position on a wild pitch and consecutive squeeze bunts from Shayne Fontana and Frank Urso put Kean on top, 5-3.
The Cougars added insurance in the seventh as senior Ryan Kelley led off the inning with a single. A walk to Taormina but runners on first and second and a sacrifice moved them 90 feet closer. Lopez then laced a double into the gap for a 7-3 cushion.
The Lions got one back in the top of the ninth off an RBI single from Garen Turner, but rookie Ian Fitzgerald was able to limit the damage for his second save of the season.
Starter Chris Amato (3-2) allowed three runs and 10 hits in six and a third innings of work. In the win he struck out four and walked just one. Fitzgerald fanned five in two and a third closing it out.
TCNJ starter Joe Cirillo (4-1) suffered his first loss of the season, tossing six and a third inning allowing seven runs, six earned and 12 hits.
Offensively Lopez was 3-for-4 with two doubles, two runs scored and two RBI while Kelley, Taormina, Fontana and Reitmeyer all had two hits in the nightcap.
For the Lions, Zach Shindler was 3-for-4.
Kean hosts the College of Staten Island on Tuesday in a non-conference matchup.