Newark, N.J. (4/25/11) – The Kean University baseball team survived a late Rutgers-Newark rally and defeated the host school, 6-5, Monday evening at Bears & Eagles Riverfront Stadium.

Senior Chris Cirlincione (5-0) earned the win for the Cougars (29-5, 12-2 NJAC).  Cirlincione tossed seven innings allowing just two hits and no runs while striking out eight and walking four. 

Kean was able to plate three runs in the fifth and three more in the seventh to take a 6-0 lead.  In the fifth, rookie Shane Alvarez got things going with a one-out single.  Senior Chris Carrano followed with a walk and junior Lee Cavico reached on an error to load the bases.  Senior Ken Gregory drove in the game's first run with an RBI single.  Junior Dylan Laguna made it 2-0 with a sacrifice fly and senior Nick Nolan closed out the scoring in the inning with an RBI single.

In the seventh sophomore Nick Ramagli drove in Gregory, who reached on a leadoff walk, with a groundout.  Nolan, who was intentionally walked, crossed the plate as Eddie Jennings reached on an error, and Jennings rounded out the scoring on a double steal.

Rutgers-Newark (19-13, 9-5 NJAC) rallied for five runs in their final at-bat.  A one-out double by sophomore Ryan Maloney started the Raider rally. Freshman John Gargiulo followed with an RBI single before junior Anthony Palladino, the only starter not pulled out of the lineup in the seventh inning, and freshman leftfielder Jason McCluskey drew back-to-back walks to load the bases.  Freshman shortstop Kevin Olah then laced a two-out, bases-loaded triple to pull Rutgers-Newark within one, but he was stranded at third when Cougar sophomore reliever Sam Fourre recorded the final out with a pop-up.

Alvarez, Carrano and Gregory all finished with two hits apiece for Kean in the win.

Kean continues their final week of the NJAC regular season as they travel to Ramapo College on Thursday.