NEWARK, NJ – The Kean University baseball team defeated Rowan University, 13-4 in the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) Championship Tournament on Sunday.

 

Kean (33-7) will face The College of New Jersey for the NJAC Championship on Monday, May 7 at 1 p.m. at Bears and Eagles Stadium in Newark, NJ. If Kean wins, the two teams will meet again at 5 p.m. Earlier today, The College of New Jersey defeated Kean, 4-3 in 12 innings and Rowan topped Montclair State University, 3-2. The conference champion receives an automatic bid to the NCAA Championship Tournament.

 

Right hander Joe Bartlinski (fr. South Amboy, NJ/South Amboy) pitched eight innings, allowing three earned runs and striking out 12 batters to improve to 5-0 on the season. Right hander Brian McLaughlin (sr. Glendora, NJ/Triton Reg.) took the loss on the mound for the Profs.

 

The Cougars were led by first baseman Aaron Richard (sr. Plainfield, NJ/St. Joseph) with three hits (three at bats), two runs scored, two RBIs and a double. Center fielder Joseph D’Andrea (sr. Hamilton, NJ/Steinert) added three hits in three trips to the plate, three RBIs, one run scored and a double. Designated hitter Mark Blevins (jr. Edison, NJ/Edison) went two for four with two RBIs, two runs scored and a triple. Shortstop Perry Schatzow (sr. Ocean Twp., NJ/Ocean Twp.) and second baseman Maikel De La Rosa (jr. Newark, NJ/Barringer) had two runs scored and one RBI apiece. Left fielder Eric Ammirata (jr. Hamilton, NJ/Hamilton West) drove in two runs.

 

For Rowan, third baseman Tom Ready (so. Blenheim, NJ/Triton Reg.) was one for five with two RBIs and a double. Second baseman Joe Franceschini (jr. Toms River, NJ/Toms River E.) went three for five with one run scored. Left fielder Keith Evans (fr. Audubon, NJ/Audubon) added one hit (three at bats), one run scored, one RBI and a home run. Center fielder Roger Turley (jr. Succasunna, NJ/Roxbury) and pinch hitter Tony Alonso (fr. Mahwah, NJ/Mahwah) each crossed the plate once.

 

Kean jumped out to a 6-0 lead with one run in the first inning and five in the second. Ammirata had a RBI double in the first. In the second inning, Blevins tripled in Schatzow and third baseman Ryan Clark (jr. Livingston, NJ/Seton Hall Prep) singled in Blevins. De La Rosa’s single plated Clark, Ammirata’s sacrifice fly brought home D’Andrea and right fielder Dan Mattonelli (jr. Hamilton, NJ/Steinert) recorded a RBI single. Rowan scored two runs in the top of the third inning on Ready’s two run double. The Cougars came right back with two runs of their own in the bottom half. Blevins and D’Andrea each drove in a run. 

 

Kean added one run in the fourth inning on a RBI single by Richard. In the seventh, D’Andrea walked with the bases loaded, bringing home Richard to make the score, 10-2. The Profs got a run in the eighth on a solo home run by Evans. It was his first career homer. In the bottom half, Richard knocked in a run with a sacrifice fly and Schatzow and D’Andrea each had a RBI single. Rowan’s final run came in the top of the ninth when Alonso crossed home plate on a balk.

 

Rowan finishes the regular season with a 23-17 record. The Profs will have to wait and until Monday, May 14 to see if they receive an at-large bid to the NCAA Championship Tournament.

 

Thu., May 3 – at campus sites

Game 1 - #1 Kean 6, #6 Richard Stockton 1

Game 2 - #2 The College of New Jersey 6, #5 Rowan 1

Game 3 - #3 Montclair State 7, #4 Ramapo 1

 

Sat., May 5 – at Bears and Eagles Stadium, Newark, NJ

Game 4 –#5 Rowan 8, #6 Richard Stockton 7                                         (Richard Stockton eliminated)

Game 5 – #1 Kean 17, #4 Ramapo 2                                                        (Ramapo eliminated)

Game 6 – #2 The College of New Jersey 9, #3 Montclair State 7

 

Sun., May 6 – at Bears and Eagles Stadium, Newark, NJ

Game 7 – #2 The College of New Jersey 4, #1 Kean 3 (12 innings)

Game 8 – #5 Rowan 3, #3 Montclair State 2                                           (Montclair State eliminated)

Game 9 – #1 Kean 13, #5 Rowan 4                                                          (Rowan eliminated)

 

Mon., May 7 – at Bears and Eagles Stadium, Newark, NJ

Game 10 – #2 The College of New Jersey vs. #1 Kean, 1:00 p.m.

Game 11 – if necessary, same teams as game 10, 5:00 p.m.