UNION, N.J. (February 19, 2016) – The Stevens Institute of Technology baseball team topped No.6/5 Kean University on Friday night in its season-opener.
The Ducks pushed a run across in their first at bats of the year. After the first two hitters recorded outs, senior Jayson Yano and junior Zeph Walters each recorded a walk. Senior Nick Sieber stepped up and rapped a single into right center, scoring Yano to give the visitors a 1-0 lead.
After a two walk put runners on first and second with two outs in the bottom of the first for Kean, a passed ball advanced runners 90 feet and into scoring position. Andy Lopez hit a grounder up the middle that was misplayed into a two-run error, with both runs being unearned.
Yano escaped a two-on, two-out jam in the bottom of the second, getting a strikeout to end the threat. Walters would hit a sacrifice fly in the top of the third to score Yano, who led off with a double and advanced to third on a passed ball. After that run, Yano and Kean hurler Mike Occhi traded zeros until Occhi was lifted for a reliever in the sixth inning.
Freshman Carlos Leon recorded his first career hit in the top of the seventh, and moved to second on a sac bunt by senior Jonathan Toro. Yano was intentionally walked and Walters was drilled with a pitch to load the bases with two outs. Cougar reliever Richie Ferguson was able to induce an inning ending fielder's choice to end the rally.
The Ducks put two runners on in both the eighth and ninth innings, but were unable to capitalize on scoring opportunities. In the top of 10th, the staged a one out rally to put across the go-ahead run. Sophomore Michael Mule' walked, and advanced to third on a single by Leon. Toro would reach on an infield single to score Mule'.
Yano went six solid innings, allowing two unearned runs on three hits, striking out seven. Classmate Greg Jakusik made his long awaited return after missing 2015 with an injury, striking out the first two batters he faced in the seventh inning. Jakusik would also strike out a trio of Cougars in eighth inning.
Sieber collected a pair of singles, and Leon wnet 3-for-5 in his collegiate debut. Senior Danny McIntyre picked up the win in relief, tossing a shutout inning. Classmate Ryan Patterson sealed the deal in the bottom of the 10th, striking out a pair. The quartet of Yano, Jakusik, McIntyre and Patterson combined to allow only three hits to a high-powered Cougar offense.
Occhi allowed three hits in 5.1 innings, while Ferguson struck out five in his 4.2 innings of relief, getting saddled with the loss.
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