La PLUME, Pa.—Turns out a week off didn't have a negative effect on the Keystone College baseball team. In fact, it might have been the best thing that has happened to the Giants so far this season.

Behind another strong pitching performance by junior Dakota McFadden, Keystone rolled Kean University, 12-3, belting out a season-high 19 hits in the process.

McFadden went seven innings, struck out eight, and allowed just three hits as the Giants won their fifth straight to improve to 8-5 overall.  The loss dropped the Cougars to 7-11.

Keystone, which had two games postponed this week after returning from a Spring Break trip last Saturday, was led on the offensive end by junior Johann Paniagua with three hits and four RBIs and junior Mohammed Hussein smacked three hits and scored twice.  McFadden also helped his own cause by belting a pair of doubles and driving in three runs.

Overall, the Giants had five extra base hits, including a run-scoring triple by senior Austin Chaszar in the second inning.  Chaszar and junior Ronald Medina also hit doubles for Keystone, which will host Arcadia University tomorrow afternoon at 1:00 p.m. at Christy Mathewson Field.

McFadden, now 3-1, didn't allow a hit until the sixth inning.  With one out, sophomore Chris Vitter hit an infield single, advanced to second on a single by sophomore Frank LoGiudice, moved over to third on a fly ball to center field by junior John Carello, and scored on an infield single by sophomore Nick Polizzano. 

Although not credited with a save, junior Matt Tarabola relieved McFadden in the eighth and allowed just one earned run over the final two innings.

In their last four games, the Giants have belted out 62 hits and scored 47 runs.

Keystone news & notes

• With three hits today, Hussein raised his team-leading batting average to .370
• Chaszar's triple in the second inning was Keystone second triple of the season
• The Giant pitching staff has struck out at least eight batters in three of their last four games and six times in 13 outings
• Sophomore catcher Ryan Callahan had two hits today, including an RBI single in the second inning; his batting average is now .350
• Today's game was Keystone's home opener at Christy Mathewson Field