LAKEWOOD, N.J. (5/21/11) – Kean University scored four runs in the third inning and held off Johns Hopkins University, 6-5, to advance in the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Region on Saturday morning.
The top-seeded Cougars now face #4 Misericordia University in an elimination game for the right to face #3 Alvernia University, who has advanced through the winner's bracket.
Senior right-hander Joe Bartlinski nearly went the distance for the Cougars (39-9), as he recorded eight strikeouts in the win. Junior catcher Eddie Jennings was 2-of-4 with two RBI in the win.
For the sixth-seeded Blue Jays (27-15), who eliminated the Cougars last season en-route to advancing to the World Series as the Mid-Atlantic Region Champion, first baseman Jeff Lynch was 2-of-5 and pulled Johns Hopkins to within one run with a two-out, two-run single in the bottom of the ninth inning.
Kean erased a 1-0 deficit with a four-run third inning, as the Cougars loaded the bases with two outs. Junior first baseman Lee Cavico and senior left fielder Ken Gregory had back-to-back singles, before junior Dylan Laguna was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Cavico would score the first run when senior right fielder Nick Nolan was also hit by a pitch and Jennings drove in Gregory and Laguna with the single up the middle for the 3-1 lead.
Nolan scored the final run of the inning when Jennings got caught in the run-down, as he attempted to steal second.
In the home half of the third inning, the Blue Jays got a run back on the RBI infield single by shortstop Kyle Neverman, however the Blue Jays stranded three runners on base as Bartlinski recorded the strikeout to end the inning.
TheBlue Jays trimmed the lead to 4-3 when second baseman Bejsiuk reached on an error, advanced to third on the double by left fielder Jesse Sikorski and scored on the balk.
Kean scored single runs in the sixth and seventh innings on sacrifice flies by sophomore Nick Ramagli and Cavico to extend the lead to 6-3.
In the bottom of the ninth inning, centerfielder Anthony Venditti was hit by a pitch and right fielder Mike Musary walked to bring the tying run to the plate with no outs. Bartlinski retired the next two batters with the strike out and fly out, before loading the bases with the walk to Sikorski.
Lynch singled off of reliever Chris Judge to drive in Venditti and Musary and move Sikorski into scoring position with the tying run, however sophomore Greg Baruka induced the game-ending fielder's choice groundout to pick up the save.
Ramagli was 2-of-3 with one RBI, while centerfielder Vinny Galya added two hits and one run scored.
Bartlinski scattered eight hits and six walks, as he improved to 5-3.
For Johns Hopkins, Sikorski finished 2-of-4, while Bejsiuk had one hit and two runs scored.