Union, N.J. (2/10/24) – Jason Gilman struck out a career-high 14 as the Kean University baseball team picked up the win in their season opener by the final of 8-5 over St. Joseph's University Long Island on Saturday afternoon.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
Gilman cruised in all but one frame of his seven inning appearance. In the third frame he allowed two hits to start the inning, but then retired the next three batters via strikeout to end the threat.
The Cougar offense got started in the second, plating two as Brett Hilsheimer recorded the first hit of the season for Kean and Steve Petrosh drove in the first run with an RBI single a batter later.
Kean added two more in the third as Justin Teixeria lined a leadoff double and Kyle Adorno reached on an infield single to put runners on the corners. Christian Pellone lofted a sac fly and Gianni Marano lined a single to put Kean ahead, 4-0.
Tyler Stone tripled with one out in the fifth and scored one batter later on an RBI from Caleb Rodriguez.
It was 6-0 after the fifth as Marano doubled to lead off the inning and came around to score on a Trevor Coltenback single one batter later.
Hilsheimer added a single run in the seventh with an RBI single and the Cougars rounded out their scoring in the bottom of the eighth as JT Abrusci and Adorno hit back-to-back doubles.
The Golden Eagles erased the deficit in the top of the ninth all with two outs. Two singles and a walk loaded the bases and Rob Page delivered with a two RBI single down the line. Joe Hackal added two more with a triple in the gap. He would score on a passed ball to cut the score to 8-5. A groundout ended the threat and the game for Kean.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
Adorno led the offense with a 3-for-5 day along with a run scored and RBI. Adorno also made a layout catch in the gap in the top of the sixth inning, taking away an extra base hit.
Coltenback, Marano and Hilsheimer all finished with two hits, a run scored and an RBI each.
Gilman (1-0) allowed just four hits and one walk in seven innings of scoreless work.
UP NEXT:
Kean will square off against Moravian College early next week.