Union, NJ:  The #5 Kean University baseball team came back to defeat Ramapo College 5-4 in a NJAC conference game today. The Cougars improve to 25-7 overall, 9-3 in the conference while the Roadrunners now stand at 18-11 overall, 7-5 in the NJAC.
 
The Roadrunners scored four runs in the top of the first inning on just one hit. Rob DeAngelis walked and stole second before Scott Shields and Joe Venturino each reached base on a hit-by-pitch to load the bases. Scott Peschiani then worked a four pitch walk allowing DeAngelis to score for the game's first run. Scott Paulus then reached base with a hit by pitch as Shields scored 2-0. Following a pitching change by the Cougars, Rafael Dela Cruz was hit by a pitch as Venturino scored before Connor Walsh ripped a single to right field allowing Peschiani to score for the team's fourth run of the inning.
 
Kean came back with three runs in the bottom of the fifth inning and took the lead with two runs in the seventh 5-4. In the fifth, with two outs Ryan Kelly hit a double to plate two runs for the Cougars before Matt Krupa laced a 3-2 pitch into right center allowing Kelly to score. In the seventh, the Cougars once again battled back with two outs scoring the go ahead runs on a 3-2 count. Tom McGuckin laced a single to right field plating the eventual game winning run.
 
Starting pitcher Brian Cottrell (0-1) worked the first 6.1 innings for the Roadrunners. He struck out two, walked two and scattered eight hits while he surrendered five runs. Kyle Doerr came in for the final 1.2 innings and struck out two and walked none while he scattered two hits.
 
Walsh and Shields each collected three hits while Venturino added two for Ramapo.
 
Ramapo returns to action when they host The College of New Jersey tomorrow in a NJAC doubleheader starting at 11:30 am. The Roadrunners will honor their senior class prior to game two in a pregame ceremony.