#2 Kean University - 6, #5 Farmingdale State - 5  F/10

Newark, N.Y. - The Farmingdale State baseball team fell, 6-5, in ten innings to second-seeded Kean University Saturday night in the NCAA New York Regional Tournament. The Rams were eliminated and finished the season with a 27-13 record.

In the top of the first, junior center fielder Michael Marino (Franklin Square, N.Y.) hit a two-out double and scored on Farmingdale State's next at-bat at senior first baseman Daniel Paccione (Commack, N.Y.) followed with an RBI double to center.

Kean (34-13) answered with a run in the first and second innings to take a 2-1 lead.

Freshman catcher Kenneth Johntry (Yaphank, N.Y.) reached base on a fielding error to lead off the third for the Rams. After a Tom Rydzewski (Franklin Square, N.Y.) single, Marino hit an RBI double to tie the game at 2-2.

The Rams regained the lead, 3-2, in the fifth inning on a Rydzewski RBI single to center field which scored senior third baseman Sal Sanquini (Levittown, N.Y.).

In the bottom of the sixth, sophomore center fielder Matt Meleo (Jackson, N.J.) reached on a two-out infield single and later scored to tie the game as Sal Taormina (Brooklyn, N.Y.) doubled to center.

With one out in the seventh, Rydzewski put Farmingdale State ahead 4-3 with an RBI double down the right field line. The Rams added an unearned run later in the inning to extend the advantage to 5-3.

A bases loaded walk in the bottom of the eighth inning cut the Cougars deficit to one, 5-4. Kean tied the game in their next at-bat on a sacrifice fly to left field by sophomore shortstop Ryan Reitmeyer (Lacey Township, N.J.).

After Farmingdale State was retired in order in the tenth, a bases loaded wild pitch scored Joe O'Connor (Wharton, N.J.) in the bottom half of the inning to lead Kean to the 6-5 victory.

Rydzewski was 3-for-5 at the plate with a run scored and an RBI, while Marino had two hits, an RBI and scored a run. Freshman starting pitcher Matt Seelinger (Levittown, N.Y.) allowed three runs over six innings of work.

The Cougars were led by junior third baseman Andy Lopez (Jackson, N.J.) who had a team-high three hits and 2 RBI, while Meleo was 2-for-6 with two runs scored. Sophomore Chris Amato (Wayne, N.J.) earned the win after pitching three scoreless innings of relief allowing one hit and striking out four.

Kean advances to play Amherst on Sunday, May 18th at 1:00 p.m.

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