JERSEY CITY, NJ…Kean University broke open a 4-0 game with 12 runs in the top of the sixth inning, as the Cougars picked up an important victory in the New Jersey Athletic Conference playoff race, defeating New Jersey City University, 16-0, in an NJAC game played at the Thomas M. Gerrity Athletic Complex.
Kean won its second consecutive game to improve to 22-12 overall and 6-6 in the NJAC, with 12 of 18 conference games completed. NJCU fell to 15-19, 2-10 with the loss. The game was called after seven innings due to the 10-run rule.
Junior right-hander Joseph Augustine (Highland Park, NJ/Highland Park) went the distance to improve to 4-1 on the season. In 7.0 innings he allowed just five singles, while striking out 10 and walking none over 86 pitches.
In a game in which 17 Cougars saw action, only three recorded multiple hits as Kean tallied 14 overall. The Cougars were lead by sophomore shortstop Maikel De La Rosa (Newark, NJ/Barringer), who was 3-for-4 with four runs, three RBIs, and two doubles. Junior centerfielder Joseph D’Andrea (Hamilton, NJ/Steinert) was 2-for-3 with two runs and two RBIs.
Also for Kean, junior first baseman Aaron Richard (Plainfield, NJ/St. Joseph’s) was 2-for-4 with one run and one RBI. Sophomore catcher Kevin O’Neill (Union, NJ/Union) scored twice in a 1-for-2 showing and freshman leftfielder Dave Nunez (Lincoln Park, NJ/Boonton) had two RBIs in his only at bat of the game.
In defeat, NJCU sophomore centerfielder
ROB SUMNER (Union, NJ/Union) extended his single-season stolen bases record to 36 (of-40), while going 2-for-3 in the game to raise his average to .410, for his 19
th multiple hit game of the season.
In a game in which NJCU used four pitchers, sophomore right-hander
AHSON SHAHID (Harrison, NJ/Harrison) took the loss to fall to 4-3 overall. In 5.0 innings, he allowed five earned runs (seven total) and seven hits with five walks and one strikeout.
Rookie right-hander
JORDAN LOVELL (Fredericksburg, VA/Stafford) was solid in 1.1 innings of perfect relief, striking out two of the four batters he faced.
Kean scored all the runs it would need in the top of the first as D’Andrea and Richard each contributed RBI singles. De La Rosa had an RBI double in the second inning, and D’Andrea added an RBI double through the right side of the infield.
NJCU had a chance to get back into the game in both the third and fourth innings, but stranded two runners in each frame. In the fourth, NJCU had two runners in scoring position with one out before Augustine, who struck out the side, fanned the final two outs of the inning.
A close game became wide open in the top of the sixth as Kean sent 15 batters to the plate, and scored 12 times on eight hits, aided by five NJCU errors.
NJCU will return to action on Sunday, April 23 at 12 p.m. in a home NJAC doubleheader against Rutgers-Camden that has been moved back from Saturday due to poor forecasted weather. Kean will also play an NJAC doubleheader against Richard Stockton College on Sunday if rained out tomorrow.
04/21/2006 at Jersey City, NJ
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Kean University..... 220 00(12) 0 - 16 14 2 (22-12)
New Jersey City U... 000 000 0 - 0 5 5 (15-19)
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WP-Augustine (4-1) LP-Ah. Shahid (4-3) T-2:18 A-213
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