Union, N.J. (2/16/20) – The Kean University baseball team opened up the 2020 season with a 6-5 win over Gwynedd Mercy University on Sunday afternoon.
Frank LoGiudice led all players with three hits on the day while adding an RBI and run scored.
The teams traded single runs in the first frame. Tyler Hopman started off the game retiring the first two Griffins easily, but two miscues prolonged the inning and back-to-back singles gave Gwynedd a quick 1-0 lead.
#5/11 Kean responded with two hits to start off the bottom of the same inning and LoGiudice tied things up after reaching third on a wild pitch and coming around to score on the same play as the live ball just missed going into the dugout. Griffins' catcher Nate Campbell dove and swiped it before it could reach the deadball area, but LoGiudice hustled around to an empty home plate to knot the score.
The Cougars took their first lead of the season in the following inning as Derek Walker appropriately walked with one out, stole second and scored on a double off the bat of Brandon Johannessen. Johannessen would later score on a wild pitch and two miscues later Kean added one more with an RBI single from LoGiudice, putting the Cougars on top, 4-1.
The see-saw affair continued as Gwynedd tied things up at four-all in the top of the third using two walks, three singles and a sacrifice fly. With two outs in the same inning, Kean regained the lead with a two out, single down the line from Johannessen, driving in Zachary Marzano who led off with a single.
Things settled down as the Griffins changed pitchers. Nick Price had a very efficient first outing as he tossed four innings of shutout ball, allowing just one hit, one walk and one hit batter along the way while fanning two.
Gwynedd tied things up at in their half of the sixth with a timely, two out hit off the bat of leadoff hitter Jack Jamison.
Kean had their next best chance in the bottom of the seventh, loading the bases on a miscue, walk and hit batsmen, but a pitchers' best friend got Gwynedd out of the jam. Relief pitcher Justin Hernandez got himself into and out of trouble in the eighth as Gwynedd Mercy led off the inning with back-to-back singles. Looking to move both runners into scoring position they bunted, but Hernandez got off the mound quick and fired a strike to third to cut off the lead runner. He then struck out the next two batters to end the threat.
The Cougars took the lead for good in their half of the eighth as Johannessen reached on a one out error. Conner DeForge got his first hit of the game, a double, down the line to put runners on second and third. Centerfielder Philip Mahlik delivered the game-winning RBI with a single through the left side. An intentional walk loaded the bases and later with two outs, substitute Justin Blakey saved more damage with a diving catch down the line in right.
Collin Kiernan worked into and out of trouble in the top of the ninth as Gwynedd Mercy picked up two singles with one out. He fielded the next play to start a game-ending double play to earn his first save of the season.
Johannessen was 2-for-4 with two RBI and two runs scored while Mahlik was 2-for-5 with an RBI and run scored.
For GMU, Billy Collins, Will Brownlowe and Jake Martell each had two hits in the loss.
Hernandez worked the win in relief as he tossed three innings allowing just three hits and no runs.
Kean returns to action on Monday when they host Alvernia University at 3 p.m.