Union, N.J. (4/2/11) – The Kean University baseball team earned a split with The College of New Jersey as they won game one 8-4 and fell in the nightcap, 5-4, in a battle of nationally ranked teams in the New Jersey Athletic Conference opener for both Saturday afternoon.
Junior Vinny Galya was a combined 2-for-6 with five RBI and four runs scored for #5 Kean whose record now stands at 17-4 overall and 1-1 in the NJAC. Sophomore Nick Cifelli was 4-for-8 with two runs scored for #17/20 The College of New Jersey (14-4, 1-1 NJAC).
Game One
The Cougars used a balanced scoring attack plating runs in the first four innings to take an 8-0 lead. Kean jumped out to a quick 5-0 lead, scoring four times in the second frame. Galya opened the game up with a two RBI double, while the Cougars took advantage of two Lion miscues to plate two more.
Kean scored two more in their half of the fourth as junior Lee Cavico launched his second homerun of the season, driving in Galya who reached on a leadoff hit-by-pitch.
The Lions didn't go quietly, scoring three runs in the top of the seventh. Jason Zegarski got things started with a one out RBI single. With the bases loaded, Mike Murphy then lofted a sacrifice fly and TCNJ scored their final run of the inning off a Cougar miscue. TCNJ would scratch across one more in the ninth, but the Cougars were able to nail down the win by the final of 8-4.
Sophomore Kevin Herget earned the win for Kean. Herget (4-0) tossed six and a third innings allowing three runs, two earned, and eight hits. He also walked six (one intentionally) and struck out five. Senior Connor Henderson suffered his first loss of the year. Henderson (4-1) allowed eight runs, seven earned, in five innings of work. He walked one and struck out four.
Sophomore Steve Nappe was 3-for-4 with two runs scored for Kean while Murphy was 2-for-4 with two RBI for TCNJ.
Game Two
It was TCNJ's turn to jump out to an early lead in game two. The Lions scored four runs over the first three innings for the 4-0 advantage. TCNJ scored a single run in the first off an RBI fielder's choice by junior Mike Galeotafiore and plated two more in the second off two wild pitches. Galeotafiore recorded an RBI single in the third for the early 4-0 lead.
Kean then battled back and scored three in their half of the fifth. Sophomore Sean Kelly got things going with a leadoff single. Nappe was then hit-by-a-pitch and one out and one batter later, Galya ripped a two run triple. Junior Dylan Laguna then lofted a sacrifice fly to pull Kean within one. One inning later, Kelly would drive home senior Nick Nolan who reached on a single to knot the game at four all.
TCNJ took advantage in the top of the ninth to score what would be the winning run. Cifelli started off the frame as he reached on a hit batsman. Junior Ethan Carey then popped out to the pitcher Ryan Zamorsky while trying to move the runner to second for the first out. Zamorsky then got senior Anthony Palmiotto to strike out for the second out. Scott Kelly was the next batter and he reached on an errant throw that sailed down the right field line allowing Cifelli to score from first base. Relief pitcher Joe Marchitelli then retired the side in the bottom of the ninth to seal the win for TCNJ.
Marchitelli earned the win. He (1-1) struck out two in two innings of work. Zamorsky (1-1) was the tough luck loser for the Cougars. Zamorsky, who entered the game in the third inning, allowed just one unearned run and two hits in six and two thirds innings. He fanned seven and walked just one.
Zegarski was 2-for-5 with two runs scored for the Lions while Kelly was 2-for-4 with an RBI and run scored for Kean.
The Cougars return to non-conference action on Tuesday when they travel to nearby the College of Staten Island for a 3:30 p.m. matchup.