Game # 1 Box Score
Game #2 Box Score
Ewing, NJ…Ranked No. 7 in Division III, Kean University took two games from No. 13 ranked The College of New Jersey in NJAC baseball action on Saturday at TCNJ’s George Ackerman Park. With the 7-0 and 4-2 wins, Kean is now 11-3 overall and 2-1 in the league, while TCNJ drops to 11-6 overall and 1-2 in the conference.
Among the highlights on the day, Kean’s senior Aaron Richard (Plainfield, NJ/St. Joseph) broke Kean’s career hit record in the second game. He surpassed the old record of 195 set in 2003 by Ryan Flannery (2000-2003) and after being held hitless in the first game, managed to go 3-4 and moved ahead of Flannery’s mark as he now has 196 hits.
Game #1 Kean 7-0 TCNJ
Kean University’s right handed senior pitcher Joseph Augustine (Highland Park, NJ/Highland Park) pitched a complete game shutout win as he improved to 3-1, holding TCNJ scoreless and to only three hits as he fanned seven in the contest.
Offensively, Kean tacked on two runs in the top of the second and never looked back as they got a pair of doubles from senior short stop Perry Schatzow (Ocean Township, NJ/Ocean Township) and he finished the first game with a 2-4 effort with two runs scored and an RBI. Junior Maikel De La Rosa (Newark, NJ/Barringer) drove in two runs and was 2-5.
TCNJ’s seniors Gerard Haran (Matawan, NJ/Old Bridge), Blake Bullis (Delran, NJ/Delran) and Matt Zonies (Marlton, NJ/Cherokee) broke up Augustine’s no hit bid, but
were unable to make anything of their singles.
On the mound for the Lions, senior Brian Kraus (Feasterville, PA/Neshaminy) took the loss after 5.1 innings of work with three earned runs off seven hits and is now 1-2 despite fanning five as the starter for TCNJ. Junior Brad Kittle (Millville, NJ/Millville) worked 1.2 innings of hitless and scoreless relief before sophomore Eric Gertie (Cinnaminson, NJ/Cinnaminson) worked another inning with one earned run, three hits and three strikeouts. Sophomore Dan Ramos (Hampton, NJ/North Hunterdon) closed the action for the Lions with a hitless ninth inning.
GAME #2 Kean 4-2 TCNJ
Kean took a 3-1 lead in the top of the sixth after being tied with TCNJ 1-1 after four innings. In the sixth inning, Kean made the most of the inning as De La Rosa tripled to right center to lead off the inning and was driven in by junior Eric Ammirata (Hamilton, NJ/Hamilton West) to break the 1-1 tie. Richard added an RBI to single to tack on another Kean run before De La Rosa added another run in the eighth after getting on base with a lead off single, stealing second and while at third made the most of a wild pitch by to tack on the final Cougar run.
In the night cap, Richard finished with a 3-4 effort at the plate with a pair of RBI’s and while De Larosa added 2-4 effort with two runs scored.
Kean’s junior pitcher Andrew Cupido (South Plainfield, NJ/South Plainfield) picked up the win after 5.1 innings of work and is now 1-1 after striking out five and allowing just one earned run off five hits.
Sophomore Brandon Aich (Sayreville, NJ/Sayreville War Memorial) picked up his second save after 3.2 innings of work with one earned run off two hits.
TCNJ’s senior Blake Ortiz (Swedesboro, NJ/Gloucester Catholic) suffered his first loss and falls to 2-1 after seven innings with three earned runs off eight hits, while fanning five and walking just one. Kittle made his second appearance of the day for the Lions and worked another two innings with one strikeout in the game.
TCNJ’s senior Jeff Botti (Avenel, NJ/Colonia) went 1-4 with an RBI in the night cap, while Zonies was also 1-4 with another RBI. Senior Dan Czepiga (Lawrenceville, NJ/Notre Dame) went 2-4 with a run scored for the Lions.
