Kean - 6, Farmingdale State - 2

Farmingdale, N.Y. - The Farmingdale State baseball team hosted non-conference opponent Kean in their home opener this afternoon and fell, 6-2. The Rams dropped to 3-7 on the year, while the Cougars improved to 11-7.

After Kean scored a run in each of the first two innings, they increased the lead to 4-0 after plating two unearned runs in the top of the third.

With two out and two on in the top of the fourth, junior right fielder Jim Fitzgerald (Lyndhurst, N.J.) hit an RBI single through the right side to put the Cougars on top, 5-0.

In the bottom of the fifth, senior first baseman Dalton McCarthy (Manorville, N.Y.) hit a two-out RBI single up the middle which scored Anthony Gigante (Bedford Hills, N.Y.) and cut the deficit to 5-1. In the next FSC at-bat, junior catcher Nick Osburn (East Islip, N.Y.) recorded a double down the left field line to drive in Vincent Rice (Massapequa Park, N.Y.) and pull the Rams within three, 5-2.

Kean tallied the final run of the game in the seventh inning on a sacrifice fly by junior left fielder Frank Urso (Warren, N.J.).

Fitzgerald was 3-for-4 at the plate with three runs scored and an RBI, while freshman center fielder Derek Walker (Piscataway, N.J.) was 2-for-3 with a run scored and an RBI for Kean. Freshman pitcher Justin Hernandez (Edison, N.J.) improved to 4-0 on the year after tossing eight innings and allowing zero earned runs on six hits.

FSC's Nicholas Rooney (Ridge, N.Y.) (0-1) took the loss after allowing two earned runs in 2.1 innings of work.

The Rams return to action tomorrow with their Skyline Conference opener against Merchant Marine. The first game of the doubleheader will begin at 3:00 p.m.

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