NEWARK, N.J. (5/18/08) - Senior Andy Cupido (South Plainfield, N.J.) struck out a career-high nine batters and went the distance to lead Kean University to back-to-back NCAA Division III World Series appearances with the 8-2 victory over second-seeded Rowan University in the 2008 NCAA Division III Mid-Atlantic Baseball Regional Tournament at Bears and Eagles Riverfront Stadium. Seniors Derek Gianakas (Edison, N.J.) and Kevin O'Neill (Union, N.J.) each homered in a game-turning sixth inning, while Cupido scattered six hits to earn his first complete game victory of the season.

The Cougars look to defend their national championship and head to their second straight World Series riding a 12-game win streak, while having also won 12 straight NCAA tournament games dating back to last year's title run. Kean faces Chapman University in the opening round of the World Series on Friday, May 23 in Appleton, Wis.

After a nearly three hour rain delay, the Cougars opened the bottom of the first inning with back-to-back singles by senior Maikel De La Rosa (Newark, N.J.) and sophomore Chris Carrano (Lincoln Park, N.J.). After stolen bases moved them over to second and third base, respectively, senior Eric Ammirata (Hamilton, N.J.) had an RBI groundout and Gianakas added a RBI single for the 2-0 lead.

The Profs cut the deficit in half with a run in the top of the fourth inning, as junior John McMullin (Woodbury, N.J.) doubled to right-center to drive in junior Tom Ready (Blenheim, N.J.), who led the inning off with a single. An inning later, Rowan tied the game on a RBI infield single by Joe Franceschini (Toms River, N.J.).

Kean answered right back in the bottom half of the inning to regain the lead for good when sophomore Mike Moceri (Yardville, N.J.) doubled to right center to drive in Ammirata and Gianakas.

In the bottom of the sixth, the Cougars broke the game open, as O'Neill led off with a solo homerun and Gianakas followed four batters later with a two-out, two run blast to left field for the 7-2 lead.

The Cougars tacked on the final run of the Mid-Atlantic Regional in the seventh when rookie Gabe Ramirez (North Bergen, N.J.) was hit by a pitch and later scored on an error.

After a lead-off single in the top of the ninth inning for Rowan, Cupido struck out his ninth Prof of the game before forcing the game-ending double play to send the Cougars to Appleton for the second-straight season.

Gianakas finished 2-of-4 with three RBI and two runs scored, while Ammirata added two hits, two runs scored and one RBI. Cupido, who earned the victories in last year's national championship game and in this season's New Jersey Athletic Conference game, improved to 4-0 in his fifth start of the year.

For the Profs, Ready and McMullin each had two hits, with Ready scoring once and McMullin driving in one.