UNION, N.J. (4/6/07) - Junior Dan Mattonelli (Hamilton, N.J.) drove in four while freshman starter Joe Bartlinski (South Amboy, N.J.) tossed 6.1 strong innings to lead #7 Kean University past Ramapo College, 15-10, Friday afternoon at Jim Hynes Field. The Cougars improve to 15-3 overall and 4-1 in NJAC play while the Roadrunners suffer their first conference loss as they fall to 18-5, 5-1 (NJAC).

Kean jumped out to an early 7-0 lead in the first two innings. In the first, the Cougars took a 2-0 lead aided by a Ramapo miscue with two outs in the inning. Junior Derek Gianakas (Edison, N.J.) and Mattonelli both scored after reaching on a hit-by-pitch and single respectively. In the second, Mattonelli again provided a punch with a two RBI single up the middle, while senior Aaron Richard (Plainfield, N.J.) recorded a two RBI double down the leftfield line.

The Cougars led by as many as 10 on two separate occasions as they plated three runs in the fifth to take a 12-2 and again in the seventh with a 15-5 advantage.

The Roadrunners would not go down easily though, as they pushed across five runs in the final two innings. In the eighth, with the bases loaded and no outs Gary Miller (Washington Twp., N.J.) crossed the plate on a wild pitch while Tim Gaven (Union, N.J.) scored on an RBI groundout. In the top of the ninth, pinch-hitter Ryan Paxton (Long Valley, N.J.) laced a one out two RBI double to rightfield. After an RBI single off the bat of David Deredita (Clark, N.J.) relief pitcher Joe Rizzo (Staten Island, N.Y.) would then secure the final out with a fly ball to center.

Bartlinski (2-0) allowed five runs and seven hits in six plus innings for Kean. He also fanned eight and walked three. Rizzo completed the game with 3 plus innings of work allowing five runs (three earned), striking out four.

Offensively for the Cougars Mattonelli was 3-for-4 with four RBI while junior Ryan Clark (Livingston, N.J.) was 2-for-2 with three runs scored and two stolen bases. Junior Kevin O'Neill (Union, N.J.) picked up his first homerun of the season with a solo shot in the fifth.

For the Roadrunners, Justin Rabinowitz (Martinsville, N.J.) was 2-for-2 while Jairo Jimenez (Bronx, N.Y.) and John Callandrello (Montville, N.J.) each had two RBI.