JERSEY CITY, N.J. (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | Kean University took advantage of two errors on the same play when it scored five runs—four unearned—in the top of the third inning and the Cougars defeated the New Jersey City University baseball team, 9-5, in the first game of a two-day New Jersey Athletic Conference home-and-home on April 14 at the Thomas M. Gerrity Athletic Complex.
 
Kean (16-11, 5-2 NJAC) trailed NJCU (14-9, 0-5 NJAC, lost 4), 2-1, entering the inning before scoring the five runs to claim a 6-2 lead. NJCU cut the deficit in half in the bottom of the inning, and trailed 6-4, before Kean added single runs in the fifth and sixth and got four innings of strong relief pitching.

In the third, after a leadoff walk, NJCU freshman shortstop Nick LoGatto (Helmetta, N.J./Spotswood) narrowly missed turning a double play. With one out a hit by pitch loaded the bases and senior designated hitter Sal Taormina (Brooklyn, N.Y.) hit a sacrifice fly down the right field line that pushed across the game tying run. Had the double play been turned, the inning would have ended there.
 
With two on base and two out, sophomore first baseman Matt Krupa (Mahwah, N.J./Mahwah) hit a fly ball down the left field line. Junior left fielder Nick Ruscingno (Teaneck, N.J./Teaneck) entered the game having played flawlessly on defense with no errors in his first 21 games. But after settling underneath the ball, he dropped what should have been the third out. He was charged with another two-base error when his relay throw to third sailed into the NJCU dugout, allowing the bases to clear and three runs to score on the play. With the lead 5-2, senior third baseman Andy Lopez (Jackson, N.J./Jackson Memorial) and freshman left fielder Tyler Mornhineway (Haworth, N.J/.Northern Valley Demarest) posted back-to-back doubles—the latter plating the sixth and eventual winning run.  
 
In defeat, junior second/third baseman Zach Buchholz (Colonia, N.J./John F. Kennedy Memorial-Iselin) was 2-for-4 with two RBIs and junior catcher CJ Pulcine (Hazlet, N.J./Raritan) batted 2-for-4 with one RBI. Sophomore center fielder Dmitri Rueger (Teaneck, N.J./Teaneck) was 2-for-5 while Ruscingno scored twice.
 
Mornhineway was 0-for-11 at the plate in his career entering the game before notching his first three hits as a collegian. He batted 3-or-4 with two RBIs and a double and Lopez batted 2-for-3. Senior second baseman Ryan Reitmeyer (Lacey Township, N.J./Lacey Township) and senior right fielder Ryan Kelley (Marlton, N.J./Cherokee) each had a hit and scored twice.

Kean freshman ambidextrous/switch-pitcher Tyler Hopman (Old Bridge, N.J./Old Bridge) threw lefty in improving to 4-0. In 5.0 innings, he allowed five runs (three earned) against six hits with three strikeouts and two walks. Freshman righty Kyle Gaeb (Rockaway, N.J./Morris Hills) fired four shutout innings, allowing two hits with three strikeouts (two walks) to notch his first career save.