Union, N.J. (4/28/16) – The Kean University baseball team used a balanced scoring attack to overcome an early deficit to defeat Rowan University by the final of 7-2 on Thursday afternoon.
With the win the Cougars (23-12, 12-3 NJAC) remain atop of the NJAC standings with three games left to go in the regular season. With the loss the Profs fall to 22-14, 10-5 in conference play.
Rowan took advantage early and pushed out to a 2-0 lead in their first at-bat with four hits in the holes. Jason Clapper recorded the first RBI of the day with a single through the right side and later scored on a single almost in the same spot from Evan Hughes.
Kean settled down and regained the lead for good in their half of the second plating four runs. Back-to-back singles from Matt Krupa and Frank Urso set up a sacrifice from Ryan Reitmeyer. Krupa crossed the plate after an errant throw from the Profs sailed down the rightfield line attempting to throw out Tyler Heisch. Brian Cole registered an RBI with a sacrifice and RBI singles from Shayne Fontana and Ryan Kelley gave Kean a 4-2 lead.
The Cougars added to their lead in the third aided by two errors from Rowan. Andy Lopez reached on a hit by pitch, moved to third on an overthrow to first on a pickoff attempt and scored on another throwing miscue in the frame.
Kean sealed the win with two more runs in the fifth as Sal Taormina started off the inning with a double. That double was the 50th of his career, setting a new program standard in the category. Taormina later scored on an RBI double from Krupa. A double steal later in the inning would give the Cougars the final of 7-2.
Senior Chris Amato picked up the complete game win. Amato (5-2) scattered 10 hits with two runs and one strikeout. Amato came through in the fifth pitching into and out of trouble with the bases loaded and one out. He didn't allow a run to score with a pop-up and groundout to get out of jam.
Eric Shugars suffered the loss. Shugars (5-2) tossed four and two thirds allowing seven runs, three earned.
Taormina and Krupa each finished 2-for-4 while Bret Phillips was 3-for-5 for Rowan.
The two teams will square off again tomorrow in Glassboro at 3:30 p.m.