Wayne, N.J. (3/25/21) – Phil Marcantonio launched two homeruns as the #14 Kean University baseball team powered past host William Paterson University, 18-11 on Thursday afternoon.

Marcantonio was one of three Cougars who collected three RBI on the day as Kean (4-1) collected 17 hits.  Marcantonio was 2-for-3 with three runs scored while Frank LoGiudice was 3-for-5 with two runs scored.  Freshman Gianni Marano was 1-for-3 with a run scored while Michael Lapczynski was 1-for-2.

The Cougars raced out to a 6-0 lead all with two outs in the top of the second.  With the bases loaded in part to two hit batsmen and a walk, Marano singled, pushing across the game's first two runs.  Philip Mahlik tripled into the gap to add two more and Cristian Corcione made it 5-0 with a ground-rule double.  LoGiudice rounded out the scoring with an RBI single.

The lead was short lived, however as the Pioneers (6-2) tied things right up with six unearned runs on three singles and two doubles.

Kean took the lead back and kept it for good with three runs in the top of the fifth.  Chris Ciaccio led off the frame with a double and Marcantonio lofted his first homerun of the day to break the six-all tie.  Timothy Huxen doubled and after a pitching change, Zach Joe singled for a 9-6 advantage.

Leading 11-7, the Cougars put the game out of reach with another six-spot.  Marcantonio had a leadoff homer while LoGiudice and Lapczynski each had two RBI hits.

Justin Hernandez (1-0) earned the win in relief.  He tossed five innings allowing 10 hits.  He walked no one and struck out four.

Kean returns to action on Friday when they host Stockton University in doubleheader fashion at 2:30 p.m.