Union, N.J. (5/7/11) – Junior centerfielder Vinny Galya went 2-for-4 with a pair of RBI as #5/#6 and top-seeded Kean University moved within one win of its third New Jersey Athletic Conference championship in the last four years with a 5-4 victory over No. 2 seed and #23/#18 ranked Rowan in Game 7 of the NJAC Baseball Championship at Jim Hynes Field on Saturday morning.
The Cougars (34-7), who have won four straight, advance to the championship round on Sunday, May 8 at 12:00 p.m. needing just one victory to claim its fifth crown overall and the automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Baseball championship. If Kean were to lose that game, a second winner-take-all contest would follow.
Rowan (29-10-1), which fell for just the third time in its last 15 games, will face either No. 3 seed Rutgers-Newark or No. 6 seed Montclair State in an elimination game at 4:00 p.m. on Saturday.
Junior righthander Mike Russo kept his record unblemished at 9-0 as he went eight-plus innings allowing nine hits and three runs. He struck out five and walked five. Sophomore lefty Chris Judge came in and recorded the final three outs in the ninth for his second save.
Senior righthander Mark Porter took the loss (3-1) for Rowan.
The Cougars jumped out quickly in the bottom of the first inning as Galya manufactured his own run. Galya lined a single to left field and the stole second and third on consecutive pitches before scoring on a sacrifice fly by Lee Cavico.
Kean would add to its lead in the second. Dylan Laguna and Nick Nolan drew consecutive walks to open the inning and both moved up on a sacrifice by Nick Ramagli. Eddie Jennings then singled to drive home Laguna and Galya bounced down a ball down the third base line to bring two more as the Cougars led 4-0.
Rowan would answer right back in the top of the third loading the bases on a pair of walks wrapped around a base hit by Marc Magliaro. But Russo nearly battled his way out of the jam on a force out and strikeout before Matt Hill lined a single back through the middle for two runs as the Profs closed the gap to 4-2.
The Profs pulled within a run in the seventh as Brandon Winkler drove in Matt Citro with a ground out. Rowan then had a chance to tie the game as Brad Woodend singled through the left side. Mark Benak tried to score on the play and appeared as if he would be beat the throw however Jennings blocked the plate enough preventing Benak from reaching the plate as Kean maintained its 4-3 lead.
The Cougars took the momentum of the big play into the bottom half adding a run as Ken Gregory blasted a solo homer with one out, his seventh of the season for a 5-3 advantage.
In the ninth, Rowan threatened and scored once as Winkler walked to open the frame which brought the tying run to the plate. Judge came on and allowed a single by pinch-hitter Nate Floyd. Magliaro got the tying runs into scoring position with a sacrifice and Woodend grounded out to score Winkler as the Profs made it a 5-4 game. Judge then got a fly ball to Galya to end the game.
Jennings finished 3-for-3 for Kean while Gregory was 2-for-4. Citro had three hits for Rowan with Woodend going 2-for-4.