Patchogue, N.Y. (3/30/17) – Sophomore Steve Santigate was 3-for-4 with a three run homerun leading #25 Kean University to a 7-1 win over St. Joseph's College-Long Island on Thursday afternoon.
Reliever Tyler Hopman (2-2) earned the win with two and two thirds innings of shutout work, allowing just one hit and one walk with one strikeout.
It was a pitchers' duel to start with Kean (13-7) finally pushing across a run in the top of the sixth. Junior Matt Krupa lined a two out double plating Jim Fitzgerald. The Golden eagles (8-6) knotted the game back up on an RBI single in the same inning.
The Cougars then opened the gates in the seventh as Santigate launched his first homerun of the season, a three run shot, and Brian Cole recorded a groundball RBI.
Kean added insurance with two more in the ninth, and T.J. Locatelli came in and closed the door for the win.
The Cougars open conference play on Saturday when they host New Jersey City University beginning at noon.