Union, NJ: The Kean University baseball team used a three-run eighth inning to come back to defeat #5 Ramapo College today 5-3 at Jim Hynes Stadium. The Cougars improve to 19-12 overall, 8-3 in the NJAC while the Roadrunners now stand at 25-5-1 overall, 7-4 in the conference.
Kean got on the board in the bottom of the first inning for a quick 2-0 lead. Matt Krupa drove home Andy Lopez and Sal Taormina with a hard hit single up the middle. The Roadrunners would take a 3-2 lead in the bottom of the sixth inning. With one out
Ryan Rinsky and
Rob DeAngelis hit back-to-back singles before
Matt Chemis loaded the bases with a fielder's choice.
Joe Venturino then drove a 3-2 pitch into left field for a two RBI double to tie the game 2-2.
Connor Walsh then laced a single through the left side of the infield allowing Chemis to score for the 3-2 lead.
Ramapo got out of a jam in the bottom of the seventh when Frank Urso led off with a double and advanced to third on a Ramapo error with not outs. A second error put runners on the corners for Kean before the Rinsky tagged out Urso at the plate trying to steal home on a squeeze bunt attempt. Ramapo starter
Kyle Haag induced two groundouts to end the inning holding the 3-2 lead.
The Cougars held the Roadrunners in the top of the eight inning leaving three runners stranded before they came to bat in the bottom of the inning and scored the eventual game-winning run.
Jerry D'Andrea came in to start the eighth before Kean's Chris Amato led off with a double and moved to third on an infield error. Following one out, Amato crossed home plate to tie the game 3-3 when Lopez stole second base. Shayne Fontana then ripped a single to center field driving home the game-winning run before Urso drove home Fontana with an infield single to take a 5-3 lead. Kean did not let up a run in the top of the ninth coming away with the NJAC conference victory.
Rich Ferguson (5-3) earned the complete game win, striking out one and walking one.
Haag earned the no decision for Ramapo, he worked the first seven innings, striking out two and walking none while he surrendered six hits and two runs. D'Andrea (1-1) took the loss; allowing three runs, one earned with one strikeout and three hits. Venturino led Ramapo going 3-4 with two RBI while Walsh was the only other Roadrunner with a multi-hit game finishing 2-4.
The Roadrunners and Cougars return to action tomorrow afternoon at Jeff Maund Field for a conference game at 3:30pm.
