Union, N.J. (2/27/11) – Sophomore Kevin Herget tossed a complete game while retiring the final 16 batters to help propel the #3/4 Kean University baseball team past #24/26 Eastern Connecticut State University, 5-3, Sunday afternoon in non-conference action.
Herget (1-0) allowed three runs, two earned, and seven hits for his first win of the season. He also walked just one and struck out 10.
The Cougars (4-0) jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first as junior Vinny Galya led things off with a double. Sophomore Nick Ramagli would reach on a bunt single and both advanced one base more on a throwing miscue by the Warriors (0-1). One batter later, senior Ken Gregory recorded an RBI with a double to left for the 2-0 lead.
Eastern Connecticut responded with a run in the third and took their only lead of the game with two more in the fourth. The Warriors plated their first run as senior Joe Cousineau led off the inning with a single and later scored on a Cougar miscue. They would take a 3-2 lead in the fourth as junior Steve Cammuso lofted a one-out triple to center and would score on a wild pitch. Eastern then recorded three straight singles to push ahead.
That lead was short lived as the Cougars plated two in their half of the fourth. Ramagli provided the offense needed with a one-out, two RBI single.
Kean tacked on an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth as sophomore Sean Kelly produced a two-out single, scoring senior Chris Carrano who reached on a leadoff single.
Junior Michael Hepple (0-1) suffered the loss for Eastern. He allowed two runs and three hits in a third of an inning of work.
Offensively Ramagli was 3-for-5 with two RBI while Gregory was 2-for-2. Carrano and Galya each finished with two hits and two runs scored while Kelly had a 3-for-4 afternoon.
The Cougars return to action on Tuesday, March 1st when they face Muhlenberg College at 2:30 p.m.