Box Score
NEWARK, NJ – Top seeded Kean University had an 18-9 victory over fourth seeded Rowan University in game seven of the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) Championship Tournament on Sunday. The game was played at Bears and Eagles Stadium in Newark, NJ.
The double elimination tournament continues at Bears and Eagles Stadium on Sunday-Monday, May 4-5. Kean (33-9) advances to the final on Monday at 1 p.m. Kean will face the winner of Sunday’s 6 p.m. game featuring Rowan (30-11) and the winner of the 2 p.m. game between second seeded Montclair State University (23-15) and fifth seeded William Paterson University (23-18).
Right hander Drew Campbell (jr. Hillsborough, NJ/Hillsborough) earned the win in relief for the Cougars. He threw 5.2 innings to improve to 5-2 on the season. Left hander Gary Winkler (sr. Glendora, NJ/Paul VI) took the loss (2-1) for the Profs.
First baseman Nick Nolan (so. Linden, NJ/Roselle Catholic) led Kean with three hits (six at bats), two home runs, four RBIs and two runs scored. Designated hitter Gabe Ramirez (fr. North Bergen, NJ/North Bergen) went two for three with a home run, one RBI and three runs scored. Shortstop Mark De La Rosa (sr. Newark, NJ/Barringer) added three hits in four trips to the plate and three runs scored. Center fielder Brian Burke (sr. Lindenhurst, NY/Lindenhurst) had two hits (four at bats), two RBIs and three runs scored. Left fielder Eric Ammirata (sr. Hamilton, NJ/Hamilton West) contributed with three hits (five at bats), a double, three RBIs and one run scored. Second baseman Michael Moceri (so. Yardville, NJ/Hamilton E.) was three for four with one RBI and two runs scored.
For Rowan, right fielder John McMullin (jr. Woodbury, NJ/Gloucester Catholic) posted three hits in five at bats, a double, two RBIs and two runs scored. Catcher Robert Fox (sr. Ocean Twp., NJ/Ocean Twp.) went three for three with three RBIs. First baseman Tom Ready (jr. Blenheim, NJ/Triton Reg.) totaled three hits (five at bats), a double and scored three times. Second baseman Joe Franceschini (sr. Toms River, NJ/Toms River E.) was two for four with a triple and one run scored.
Kean went ahead 4-0 in the top of the first inning. Burke scored the first run on a wild pitch. Moceri hit a RBI single and Nolan had a two run homer. Rowan tied the game with four runs in the bottom half. Designated hitter Roland Rodriguez (so. Miami, FL/Miami Killian) and McMullin each singled in a run and Fox hit a two run single. In the top of the second, Ramirez scored on Burke’s sacrifice fly and De La Rosa came home on an error. The Cougars added four runs in the third. Ramirez crossed the plate on a wild pitch, catcher Kevin O’Neill (sr. Union, NJ/Union) scored on an error and Ammirata knocked in two runs with a single to left field.
Ramirez’s solo homer in the fifth gave Kean a 11-4 advantage. Rowan got two runs in the bottom half. McMullin doubled in Ready and Fox’s singe plated McMullin. The Cougars scored seven runs in the sixth to go up 18-6. Nolan hit a two run home run and O’Neill singled in a run. Burke’s single brought in O’Neill and Ammirata’s double down the left field line scored Burke. Gianakas followed with a two RBI single. Rowan got one run in the seventh, eighth and ninth innings, but Kean held on for the win. Ready scored on Rodriguez’s sacrifice fly in the seventh, Franceschini came in on a ground out in the eighth and catcher Dan Krause (sr. Northfield, NJ/Mainland Reg.) had a RBI single in the ninth.
