UNION, N.J.- The TCNJ baseball team worked a split with NJAC top ranked Kean on Saturday, losing the first game 11-5 and winning the second 7-0.
 
GAME 1- Kean 11, TCNJ 5:
 
As they have many times this season, the Lions came out firing in the top of the first scoring four runs on four hits to jump out to an early 4-0 lead. A Chris Reeder single to right field got the scoring going for TCNJ as Mike LaGravenis crossed home. Andrew Fernandez kept up his hot streak at the plate with an RBI single of his own to left center which scored Justin Marcario. Two outs later, Zach Weiner played two more runs with a single through the left side to score Goodall and Reeder.
 
After the first, starter Ben Amon managed to settle in allowing just two runs over the next six innings with three strikeouts and a walk.
 
In the bottom half of the first, the Cougars fought right back scoring three runs on four hits to bring the score to just 4-3.
 
Kean found the answer in the bottom half of the fifth, scoring one run on two hits to tie the game at four runs apiece.
 
In the seventh, the Cougars took their first lead of the game scoring one run on two hits to pull ahead 5-4.
 
TCNJ got the bats going again in the top of the eighth as they tied the game at five with a Sebastian JnoBaptiste sac-fly to score Chris Reeder. Reeder led the inning off with a double to right center field. Fernandez followed this with a single to center, moving Reeder to third and able to score on the JnoBaptiste fly ball.
 
In the home half of the eighth, the Kean offense exploded for six runs on three hits along with a couple of free bases via walks to take an 11-5 lead. The Cougars held the Lions scoreless in the top of the ninth to claim game one.
 
LaGravenis led the Lions at the plate in game one with three hits as Reeder, Marcario and Fernandez each had a pair of hits. Weiner was the main run provider for TCNJ with his two RBIs.
 
 
GAME 2- TCNJ 7, Kean 0:
 
Game two starter Jackson Malouf was absolutely dealing on Saturday. He went eight strong, scoreless innings while only allowing 5 hits, striking out 5 and walking two. Kean only left two runners in scoring position just once as Malouf was quick to shut any momentum from the Cougars down.
 
The Lions got on the board first in the top of the first, taking advantage of a passed ball with runners on second and third. LaGravenis stole home to give TCNJ the 1-0 lead early.
 
The Lions patted on two more runs in the sixth to pull ahead 3-0. The two runs came on three hits and one error. An errant throw on a Reeder fielders choice gave LaGravenis his second run scored of the game. A timely Fernandez single scored Reeder to put TCNJ up three.
 
In the top of the seventh, the TCNJ offense gave Malouf some insurance with four runs on three hits and one error. A LaGravenis single through the right side scored JnoBaptiste to get the run scoring started in the seventh. Jack Haynes crossed home on a wild pitch just a few batters later which Reeder followed up with a ground-rule two RBI double to right center field to score Marcario and LaGravenis to give the Lions a 7-0 advantage.
 
In the ninth inning, junior Joe Ferreri came in for the final three outs and did exactly what he had to, holding Kean scoreless and securing the split for TCNJ.
 
JnoBaptiste, LaGravenis, Marcario and Reeder led the way to victory at the plate for the Lions in game two. JnoBaptiste led TCNJ in hits for game two with an impressive trio of hits. LaGravenis and Marcario each had a pair of hits while LaGravenis had an RBI and three runs scored and Marcario only an RBI. Reeder was the driving force in run production with a hit, a run scored and three RBIs.
 
The split brings the Lions NJAC record back to an even 7-7. They look to end the regular season on a high note starting with a home and home against Rutgers Camden on Thursday and Friday with both games starting at 3:30 PM.