Union, N.J. (2/21/20) – The Kean University baseball team used a late rally to overtake the College at Old Westbury by the final of 5-4 on a cold Friday afternoon in non-conference action.

Holding a slim 3-2 lead in the top of the eighth, the Panthers (0-1) got a big one out, double from Shawn Kaminski to move ahead, 4-2.  Reliever Matt Baker entered the game and got two big outs via strikeouts to end the threat.

In the same frame, Mike Perone Jr. led off with a single.  A hit-by-pitch to Josh Jackson put runners on first and second, and pinch-hitter Philip Mahlik moved both into scoring position with a groundout.  Cristian Corcione delivered a two RBI single in the hole to knot the game up at four-all.

Baker (1-0) worked around a leadoff single from Michael Borsch with a sacrifice bunt, groundout and strikeout, leaving the go-ahead run stranded at third.  With one out in the bottom of the ninth, Chris Ciaccio singled up the middle.  Zachary Marzano delivered the walk-off with a double down the line, scoring Ciaccio all the way from first.

Offensively Ciaccio and Marzano each had two hits on the day.  Baker earned his first collegiate win with 1.2 innings of relief work allowing just one single with three strikeouts.  Closer Joe Sarni suffered the loss after allowing one run on three hits.

Kean returns to action on Saturday when they host Misericordia University at 1 p.m.