Box Score

NEWARK, NJ – Top seeded Kean University defeated second seeded Rowan University, 8-2 in the final game of the NCAA Division III Championship Tournament first round at Bears and Eagles Riverfront Stadium on Sunday.

Kean (39-9) advances to the NCAA Division III Championship Tournament on Thursday-Monday, May 22-26 at Fox Cities Stadium in Appleton, WI. Rowan finishes the season with a 34-14 record. Earlier on Sunday, Rowan topped the third seed The College of New Jersey, 5-2 to reach the final game.

Right hander Andrew Cupido (sr. South Plainfield, NJ/South Plainfield) went the distance for the Cougars. Cupido (4-0) recorded nine strikeouts. Righty Todd Burdette (fr. Succasunna, NJ/Roxbury) took the loss (1-1) for the Profs.

Kean was led by right fielder Derek Gianakas (sr. Edison, NJ/Edison) with two hits (four at bats), a home run, three RBIs and two runs scored. Left fielder Eric Ammirata (sr. Hamilton, NJ/Hamilton West) went two for four with one RBI and two runs scored. Second baseman Michael Moceri (so. Yardville, NJ/Hamilton East) had one hit (four at bats), a double and two RBIs.

For Rowan, right fielder John McMullin (jr. Woodbury, NJ/Gloucester Catholic) was two for four with one RBI. First baseman Tom Ready (jr. Blenheim, NJ/Triton Reg.) recorded two hits (four at bats) and one run scored. Center fielder Garrett Mull (jr. Chatsworth, NJ/Lenape) scored one run, while second baseman Joe Franceschini (sr. Toms River, NJ/Toms River E.) had one RBI.

The Cougars went up 2-0 in the bottom of the first inning. Shortstop Maikel De La Rosa (sr. Newark, NJ/Barringer) scored on a ground out by Ammirata and Gianakas’ single plated third baseman Chris Carrano (so. Lincoln Park, NJ/Boonton). Rowan tied the game at two with one run in the fourth and fifth innings. McMullin doubled in Ready in the fourth and Mull crossed the plate on Franceschini’s single in the fifth. In the bottom half, Moceri had a two run double to give Kean a 4-2 lead. The Cougars added three runs in the sixth. Catcher Kevin O’Neill (sr. Union, NJ/Union) led off with a solo homer and Gianakas hit a two run shot. Designated hitter Gabe Ramirez (fr. North Bergen, NJ/North Bergen) scored Kean’s final run on an error in the seventh.

Rowan left hander Ryan Kulik (sr. Marlton, NJ/Cherokee), Mull and McMullin were selected to the All-Tournament Team.