Glassboro, N.J. (4/24/15) – Senior Charles Thielmann fired a complete game shutout to help the Kean University baseball team edge Rowan University 1-0 in the first of a home-and-home NJAC series.
The Cougars, ranked 5th by D3baseball.com and 7th by the American Baseball Coaches Association, improve to 27-8 this spring and 11-4 in the NJAC. The Profs, ranked 24th by D3baseball.com and 22nd by the ABCA fall to 22-10 and an identical 11-4 in conference play.
In a classic pitchers' duel that last only one hour and 53 minutes, it was the Cougars who found a way to push across what would be the only needed and produced run of the afternoon.
With two outs in the top of the eighth, junior Matt Meleo laid down a bunt down the third base line. The third baseman playing back was unable to complete the play putting Meleo on first. Sophomore Tyler Heisch then delivered the first pitch he saw into the gap recording a triple and driving in what would be the only run of the day.
The Profs threatened in their last at-bat as Johnny Dunn singled to start the inning and moved into scoring position on a sacrifice. Evan Hughes then reached via a throwing miscue as Rowan now had runners on first and third with one out. Thielmann was able to induce a double play ball that ended the threat and the game.
Thielmann (5-2) scattered 11 hits, all singles, in his fifth complete game of the season. He walked no one and struck out six. Ryan Easterday suffered the loss in his own complete game effort. Easterday (4-2) allowed one walk and seven hits with two strikeouts.
Offensively, senior Anthony Fischetti had two hits for Kean while Casey Grimes was a perfect 4-for-4 from the cleanup spot for Rowan.
The two teams will be back in action tomorrow at Jim Hynes Stadium at 3:30 p.m.