Union, N.J. (2/23/11) – Junior Julian Diaz threw a complete game, three hitter to help the Kean University baseball to a win in their season opener as they defeated Stevens Institute of Technology, 4-2, Wednesday afternoon in non-conference action.

In the opener for both, Diaz started off the season right with a dominant performance as he fanned 10 and walked just one.  Today's two run scored were also unearned.

The Cougars (1-0) wasted little time and scored on their first opportunity of the season as junior Vinny Galya led off the bottom of the first with a single.   After stealing second and advancing to third on a fly out, he scored the game's first run as senior Nick Nolan singled him home. 

Stevens (0-1) then took their only lead of the afternoon in their next at-bat, aided by a Cougar miscue to leadoff the frame.  With runners on first and second and no outs, senior Denis Ackermann got down a successful sacrifice.  The Ducks tied things up with an RBI groundout and took the lead as Ryan Kiczek recorded an RBI single. 

Kean then took the lead for good as they plated two in the bottom of the third.  Senior Ken Gregory helped tie things up with an RBI groundout and Nolan put KU ahead for good as he tallied his second RBI and hit of the day. 

The Cougars scored an insurance run in the bottom of the fourth as Galya hit a two-out single to score sophomore Steve Nappe. 

Senior Ken Meerendonk suffered the loss in a complete game effort as well.  Meerendonk allowed eight hits and walked one.

It was one of the fastest nine-inning affairs in modern record keeping for the program, as the contest was complete in one hour and fifty-two minutes.

The Cougars return to action on Thursday when they host the College of Mt. St. Vincent at 2:30 p.m.