Whittier, Calif. (3/14/15) – Rookie Matt Krupa drove in four, including a three-run blast, his first collegiate homerun, as the Kean University baseball team topped Whittier College, 10-4.

Krupa was 2-for-4 with two runs scored, a double and homerun as Kean improved to 8-1 this season.

The Cougars got things started on the right foot as junior Matt Meleo launched the first pitch of the game over the right field fence for a quick lead.  Whittier answered in the bottom of the frame with two runs after a call at first base didn't go in favor of Kean, allowing a run to score instead of the third out of the inning.  Charlie Mayfield followed with an RBI double to give the Poets a 2-1 lead. 

Both teams traded single runs before Whittier jumped out to a 4-2 lead in the third taking advantage of a wild pitch. 

Kean rallied back for three runs in the fifth on six hits, including RBI singles from Ryan Reitmeyer, Tom McGuckin and Ryan Kelley to take the lead for good.

Krupa then launched a three run homerun in the seventh to widen the gap and the Cougars closed out the scoring with single runs in the eighth and ninth with a bases loaded walk from Krupa and an RBI double from Brian Squibb. 

In total the #6/15 Cougars pounded out 18 hits as seven players recorded a multi-hit afternoon.  Meleo and Chris Amato were each 3-for-4 while Kelley tallied two RBI.

Senior Matthew Wagner earned the win in relief.  Wagner (1-0) tossed six innings of scoreless, hitless ball allowing just one walk while fanning six.