Ewing, N.J. (3/31/07) - 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 NJAC, while TCNJ drops to 11-6 overall and 1-2 in conference play.
Among the highlights on the afternoon, senior Aaron Richard (Plainfield, N.J.) broke the career hit record at Kean University. After a 3-for-4 performance, he surpassed the old record of 195 set in 2003 by Ryan Flannery (2000-2003), he now has 196 hits.
Game #1 Kean 7, TCNJ 0
Senior pitcher Joe Augustine (Highland Park, N.J.) pitched a complete game shutout win as he improved to 3-1, holding TCNJ scoreless allowing just 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 receiving pair of doubles from senior shortstop Perry Schatzow (Ocean Township, N.J.). He finished the first game with a 2-4 effort with two runs scored and an RBI. Junior Maikel De La Rosa (Newark, N.J.) drove in two runs and was 2-for-5.
TCNJ seniors Gerard Haran (Matawan, NJ), Blake Bullis (Delran, N.J.) and Matt Zonies (Marlton, N.J.) managed just three singles against Augustine in the loss.
On the mound for the Lions, senior Brian Kraus (Feasterville, Pa.) took the loss after 5.1 innings of work with three earned runs off seven hits and is now 1-2.
GAME #2 Kean 4, TCNJ 2
Kean broke a 1-1 tie and took a 3-1 lead in the top of the sixth. In the sixth inning, Kean made the most of the inning as De La Rosa tripled to rightcenter to lead off the inning and was driven in by junior Eric Ammirata (Hamilton, NJ) to break the 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 took advantage of a wild pitch to tack on the final Cougar run.
In the night cap, Richard finished with a 3-for-4 effort at the plate with a pair of RBI while De La Rosa finished 2-for-4 with two runs scored.
Junior Andrew Cupido (South Plainfield, N.J.) 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) picked up his second save after 3.2 innings allowing one earned run off two hits.
TCNJ senior Blake Ortiz (Swedesboro, NJ) 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.
TCNJ senior Jeff Botti (Avenel, NJ) went 1-for-4 with an RBI in the night cap, while Zonies was also 1-for-4 with another RBI. Senior Dan Czepiga (Lawrenceville, NJ) went 2-for-4 with a run scored for the Lions.
