Jersey City, N.J. (4/21/23) – Phil Marcantonio tied two Kean single game records as he helped the baseball team outlast New Jersey City University, 18-13 on Friday afternoon on the windy waterfront.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

The Cougars (21-11-1, 10-1-1 NJAC) and Gothic Knights (11-16, 1-11 NJAC) combined for nine homeruns and 32 total hits.

Marcantonio finished the day with three homeruns (two run, grand slam, two run) and nine RBI. Both of those totals tie Kean single game records.

It was a game of bunches as Kean took a 2-0 lead in the first thanks to Marcantonio's first homerun of the day.

NJCU answered back with three runs in the second (bases clearing double from Ricky Voss) and added to that lead with two more in the third (solo homer and RBI single).

The Cougars pulled within one with two in the top of the fourth (RBI singles from Justin Teixeira and Brett Hilsheimer), but the Knights added two of their own in the bottom of the fourth to extend the lead.

Kean took the lead back and kept it for good with six runs in the top of the fifth.  Teixeira and Hilsheimer each recorded two RBI singles.  Marcantonio was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded and Gianni Marano added an RBI single of his own for a 10-7 lead.

A solo homer for the Knights inched them to within two, but Kean responded with five more in the sixth.  Dylan Beyer lofted a sac fly and Marcantonio drove in four with a grand slam.

NJCU added five more between the sixth and seventh but Kean added insurance with homers in the ninth inning from Marcantonio and Marano. 

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

Jason Gilman earned the save after tossing two and a third innings of relief.  He allowed no runs and no hits with one walk and five strikeouts.

Teixeira and Hilsheimer each had three RBI.  Marano was 2-for-5 with two RBI and two runs scored.

UP NEXT:

Kean hosts The College of New Jersey on Saturday with a twinbill starting at 11:30 a.m.