Kean Advances Past Misericordia; Face #3 Alvernia for Mid-Atlantic Title

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LAKEWOOD, N.J. (5/21/11) – Junior left-hander Ryan Zamorsky struck out eight and allowed just five hits in his first appearance since mid-April to lift top-seeded Kean University to a 5-3 win over #4 Misericordia University in the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Region on Saturday afternoon.

Top-seeded Kean won its 40th game of the season, the second most wins in school history, and need to defeat #3 Alvernia University twice on Sunday to advance to the World Series for the fourth time in the last five seasons. 

Zamorsky and Guido were locked in a pitchers' duel through the first five innings, as Zamorsky held Misericordia hitless and Guido allowed just one hit in the third inning.

Misericordia scratched the first run across in the top of the sixth inning, as junior catcher Chris Tuttle led off the inning with a walk, advanced to second on the sacrifice bunt by Joe Tagliarini and scored on freshman Ryan Cacchioli's single for the 1-0 lead.

In the home half of the sixth, the Cougars loaded the bases with no outs following back-to-back walks to catcher Eddie Jennings and third baseman Nick Ramagli and an infield single by freshman shortstop Tyler Smarslok.  Junior centerfielder Vinny Galya tied the game with the bases-loaded walk to score Jennings, before senior second baseman Chris Carrano singled in Ramagli and Smarslok and junior first baseman Lee Cavico drove in Galya with the single for the 5-1 lead. 

Misericordia trimmed the deficit to 5-3 in the top of the seventh when Tuttle laced a two-run double down the left field line to score senior Nate Newman and junior Jeff Slanovec, who reached on infield singles.

Zamorsky, who was sidelined since April 15th with an injury, faced the minimum six batters in the final two innings to pick up the complete game victory and advance Kean to championship day on Sunday. 

Carrano was 2-of-4 with two RBI and one run scored in the win.

Guido allowed just four hits in five innings of action for Misericordia, before reliever Mike Pena held Kean hitless over the final three innings.

Cacchioli finished 2-of-3 with one RBI, while Tuttle was 1-of-2 with two RBI and one run scored.