Union, N.J. (4/18/15) – The Kean University baseball team belted out 18 runs on 24 hits in the nightcap to earn a split with Stockton University in NJAC action on Saturday afternoon.
The Cougars (26-8, 10-4 NJAC) won the nightcap, 18-4 after falling to Stockton (12-13, 4-9 NJAC) 7-5 in the opener.
Game One
It was a see-saw battle of big innings as the Ospreys jumped out on top with two runs in the second with a two out rally. Matt Mangarella and Bryce DiPaola both contributed with RBI singles.
It was the Cougars turn to take the lead with a three run fourth frame. Rookie Matt Krupa, senior Tom McGuckin and junior Eric Fernandez all had RBI singles in the inning.
But that lead quickly vanished as Stockton plated five runs in the fifth with six straight singles and no outs. Reliever Vinny Zanfordino stopped the surge and after a sacrifice fly was able to get out of the inning.
Trailing 7-3, Kean added single runs in the eighth and ninth with solo homeruns from junior Sal Taormina and Fernandez, but it wasn't enough as Blaze Gaspari was able to work an inning of relief for the save.
Mike Bergin (2-2) picked up the win after tossing six innings, allowing three runs and seven hits. Zanfordino received a no decision with five innings of shutout relief with four strikeouts.
For the Cougars, McGuckin was 3-for-4 with a double while Taormina, Krupa and Fernandez all had two hits apiece. For the Ospreys, Brett Solomen had three hits as his team combined for 14 hits on the day, all singles.
Game Two
Inning one seemed to be like the opener as Stockton used a two out rally with back-to-back singles to produce a quick 3-0 lead. Mark Jankowski struck first with an RBI single followed by a two RBI single from Mangarella.
Kean quickly took the lead back, this time for good, plating five runs in the same inning. Krupa got things going with an RBI single followed by a two RBI double from McGuckin and an RBI groundout from junior Anthony Fischetti. Fernandez rounded out the scoring with an RBI single, putting Kean ahead, 5-3.
The teams traded single runs in the second before the Cougars blew the game open with eight in their half of the third. Kean powered through with eight hits in the inning, highlighted by an RBI double by junior Ryan Kelley and an RBI triple by Fischetti.
Kean then cruised from there, adding a single run in the fifth on an inside the park homerun from Fischetti to centerfield and a three-spot in the sixth with RBI hits from Krupa, McGuckin and Ben Favreau.
Senior Casey Carothers (3-0) earned the win. He threw five innings, allowing three earned runs and five hits.
Offensively every starter had a hit, with junior Chris Amato picking up five on the day (5-for-6) and four runs scored. Taormina, Krupa and Fischetti all had three hits with Fischetti falling a double short of the cycle.
Kean returns to NJAC action on Thursday, April 23rd when they travel to Rowan University.