Union, N.J. (5/1/12) – Senior Dylan Laguna was 1-for-2 with a three run blast and four RBI as he helped propel #2 Kean University past #5 The College of New Jersey in the first round of the New Jersey Athletic Conference Tournament by the final of 8-3 Tuesday afternoon.
With the win Kean (29-10) will host #3 Rowan University on Thursday afternoon at 3:30 p.m. Rowan defeated #4 William Paterson University, 7-6, in 10 innings. The College of New Jersey (22-19) will face an opponent to be determined.
The Lions jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first by loading the bases on a walk and two infield single, scattered around an out. Junior Mike Murphy lofted a sacrifice fly for the game's first run. Rookie Jacob DeWitt then hit a perfectly placed ball that landed just inside the right field line for an RBI and a 2-0 lead.
The #11/14 Cougars responded with six runs in their half of the first to take the lead for good. Freshman Andy Lopez lined an RBI single up the middle and later in the inning Laguna launched a three run blast into left centerfield for a 3-2 lead. Sophomore Joe O'Connor quickly followed with a liner to dead centerfield for a triple and sophomore Nick Zucchero drove him home with a double to left center. Sophomore Tyler Smarslok rounded out the scoring with an RBI single. In all, Kean recorded seven hits in the frame.
Kean added single runs in the second and seventh. In the second, Laguna recorded his fourth RBI of the day with a sacrifice fly and in the seventh he would come around and score on a Lion miscue.
TCNJ added their third run of the afternoon in the top of the sixth as DeWitt registered an RBI groundout, scoring senior Mike Galeotafiore, who reached on a leadoff double.
Senior Chris Cirlincione earned the win for Kean. Cirlincione (6-2) tossed seven innings allowing seven hits and three runs. He walked one and struck out three. Sophomore Matt Mantione tossed two innings of shutout relief to close out the game. Sophomore Brendan Kelly suffered the loss for TCNJ. Kelly (4-3) allowed seven runs in one and a third innings of work.
Offensively senior Steve Sanguiliano was 3-for-5 with two runs scored for Kean while Galeotafiore recorded two hits for the Lions.