Box Score
GLASSBORO, NJ – The Kean University baseball team defeated Montclair State University, 12-3 in the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) Championship Tournament on Saturday morning. The tournament is being played at Rowan University.
With the win, the second seed Kean (31-10) advances to the championship on Sunday, May 9. The sixth seed Montclair State (21-17) plays the fourth seed The College of New Jersey (22-18) today at 4 p.m. The winner will meet Kean on Sunday. Also on Saturday, The College of New Jersey beat top seeded Rowan University, 6-4.
Kean right-hander Kevin Herget (fr. Park Ridge, NJ/Park Ridge) earned the win on the mound. He (6-0) allowed three earned runs in seven innings. Herget totaled nine strikeouts. Righty Daniel Nodarse (sr. Rutherford, NJ/Rutherford) surrendered 10 earned runs in seven innings for the loss (1-2).
Catcher Eddie Jennings (so. Jackson, NJ/Jackson Mem.) paced the Cougars with three hits (three at bats), two runs scored, two RBIs and a home run. Left fielder Dylan Laguna (so. Edison, NJ/Edison) went three for four with three runs scored, two RBIs and a homer. Center fielder/left fielder Ryan Gibbons (so. Glen Rock, NJ/Glen Rock) added two hits (five at bats), two runs scored, two RBIs and a home run. Designated hitter Ken Gregory (jr. Pittstown, NJ/Immaculata) was one for two with three RBIs, two runs scored and a homer. Second baseman Mike Moceri (sr. Yardville, NJ/Hamilton E.) produced two hits, a double and scored one run. Right fielder Nick Nolan (jr. Linden, NJ/Roselle Catholic) had one hit, one RBI and one run scored. Shortstop Steven Giambrone (so. Roebling, NJ/Florence Twp.) scored once.
For Montclair State, right fielder Scott Evangelist (sr. Northfield, NJ/Holy Spirit) compiled two hits (four at bats), three RBIs, one run scored and a solo homer. Shortstop Jay Bionde (jr. Pompton Plains, NJ/Pequannock) chipped in with two hits (four at bats), a double and one run scored. Center fielder Michael Boggi (jr. Towaco, NJ/Montville) recorded two hits (four at bats). First baseman Jason Chesterman (fr. Bloomfield, NJ/Bloomfield) scored one run.
The Red Hawks went up 1-0 in the top of the first after Evangelist hit a solo shot to right field. In the bottom half, Gibbons got on with a single and later scored on a sacrifice fly by Gregory. Laguna drove in Giambrone with a single to left field. Jennings hit a solo home run to left center field in the second inning for a 3-1 lead.
Montclair State tied the game (3-3) with two runs in the top of the third inning. Chesterman got on base with a walk. He moved to third on Bionde’s double down the right field line. With the bases loaded, Evangelist ripped a single through the right side, plating Chesterman and Bionde. Kean went ahead for good with five runs in the bottom of the third. Nolan singled in Gregory for the first run. Laguna crossed the plate on a ground out by third baseman Chris Carrano (jr. Lincoln Park, NJ/Boonton). Jennings had a bunt single that brought Nolan home. Gibbons followed with a two-run homer to right field.
Kean tacked on three runs in the fourth and one in the sixth. Moceri led off the fourth with a double. Gregory knocked him in with a two run shot to right center field. Laguna reached base on an error and came home on a double play. In the sixth, Laguna hit a solo homer over the left field fence.
Tickets for the NJAC Championship Tournament are $5 for adults and $2 for students with ID, senior citizens and children. The remaining schedule for the NJAC Baseball Championship Tournament is below. Results and the updated schedule for the double elimination conference tournament will be available at rowanathletics.com and njacsports.com.
Tue., May 4 (at higher seeds)
Game 1 - #6 Montclair State University 3, #1 Rowan University 2 (11 inn.)
Game 2 - #2 Kean University 8, #5 Richard Stockton College 7
Game 3 - #4 The College of New Jersey 11, #3 Rutgers-Newark 9
Thu., May 6 (at higher seeds)
Game 4 - #1 Rowan University 10, #5 Richard Stockton College 7 (Richard Stockton is eliminated.)
Game 5 - #6 Montclair State University 13, #3 Rutgers-Newark 10 (Rutgers-Newark is eliminated.)
Game 6 - #2 Kean University 6, #4 The College of New Jersey 1
Sat., May 8 (at Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ)
Game 7 – #2 Kean University 12, #6 Montclair State University 3
Game 8 – #4 The College of New Jersey 6, #1 Rowan University 4 (Rowan is eliminated.)
Game 9 – #6 Montclair State University (21-17) vs. #4 The College of New Jersey (22-18), 4:15 p.m.
Sun., May 9 (at Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ)
Game 10 – #2 Kean University (31-10) vs. winner game 9, noon
Game 11 – same as game 10 (if necessary), TBA
