Moosic, Pa. (5/20/16) – The Kean University stayed alive in the elimination bracket with their second win of the day, this time a 7-4 win over Penn State Berks.

Kean is one of three teams left in the bracket and will take on the University of Massachusetts Boston at noon on Saturday. 

The Cougars (29-17) quickly jumped out in their first at-bat as Tyler Heisch started things off with a walk.  A groundout moved him into scoring position and an RBI single from Ryan Kelley put Kean on the board.  The very next batter, Sal Taormina, pushed the lead to 2-0 with an RBI single of his own.  Sophomore Matt Krupa singled to put runners on first and second and Frank Urso reached via an error as Taormina crossed the plate for a 3-0 lead. 

Urso pushed the lead out to 5-0 with a two RBI double in the fifth.  He scampered home on a Shayne Fontana single giving the Cougars a 6-0 lead.  Fontana then moved around the bases with a stolen base and passed ball and he made it 7-0 after an RBI single from Brian Cole.

The Lions offense came alive in the sixth with an RBI singles from Toby Welk and Dalton Hughes.  Penn State Berks made it 7-3 after being awarded home on a balk. 

Penn State Berks chipped away and added another in the seventh with an RBI from Tom Grablewski.  The Cougars ended the threat in the seventh with a big strikeout, pickoff double play.

The Lions made things interesting in the ninth with runners on second and third with two outs and the tying run at the plate.  Senior Vinny Zanfordino, who entered earlier in the inning, was able to get a popup to pick up his first save of the year.

Southpaw Mike Occhi earned the win after tossing eight plus innings allowing four runs and eight hits.  He walked five and struck out five to improve to 3-1. 

Offensively Krupa was 3-for-4 while Andy Lopez, Taormina and Kelley all registered two hits in the nightcap.