Baseball

TCNJ Edges Kean In Extras; Cougars Fall 4-3 In 12 Innings

Newark, N.J. (5/6/07) - Sophomore Vince Mazzaccaro (Gloucester, N.J.) singled home senior Dan Czepiga (Lawrenceville, N.J.) in the bottom of the twelfth to send second seeded The College of New Jersey (31-8) into the New Jersey Athletic Conference Championship game by defeating first seeded Kean University, 4-3.

With the loss, Kean (32-7) will now fall into the losers bracket and will square off against the winner of this afternoon's matchup featuring #3 Montclair State University and #5 Rowan University at 6 p.m. this evening.

The Cougars broke a 2-2 tie in the top of the 11^th as junior Ryan Clark (Livingston, N.J.) singled home senior Perry Schatzow (Ocean Twp., N.J.) to give Kean a slim 3-2 edge.  In the bottom of the same inning TCNJ led off with a triple to deep right centerfield by sophomore Jeff Toth (Parlin, N.J.), his second triple of the afternoon. 

The score quickly was tied at three when the next batter, Blake Bullis (Delran, N.J.) hit a triple of his own bringing home Toth.  Kean then elected to intentionally walk the next two batters, Gerard Haran (Matawan, N.J.) and Andrew Cosgrove (Lebanon, N.J.) to force the bases loaded with no outs.  Relief pitcher Brandon Aich (Sayreville, N.J.) proceeded to get three outs as Matt Zonies (Marlton, N.J.) reached on a fielders choice, as Maikel De La Rosa (Newark, N.J.) threw out Bullis at the plate with the force out.  Pinch-hitter Bill Kropp (Pottstown, N.J.) struck out looking and the final out of the inning was recorded as Haran was caught off third after a blown squeeze attempt.

In the crucial 12^th inning, Czepiga led off with a double down the leftfield line.  Dave Mebs (Cinnaminson, N.J.) then bunted back to the pitcher, but Aich's throw was high in an attempt to get the lead runner. With runners at first and third and no outs, Mazzaccaro singled to leftfield for the winning run.

Aich (1-1) suffered the loss after tossing two plus innings allowing four hits and two runs, one earned.  Senior Dan Zeffiro (Old Bridge, N.J.) received a no decision after tossing nine innings allowing two runs, one earned and six hits.  He also fanned eight and walked three.

Senior Bill Opel (Bayonne, N.J.) earned the win for the Lions.  Opel (2-0) allowed two hits and one run in three and two third innings.

Offensively for the Cougars Schatzow was 3-for-6 with two runs scored while Clark finished 2-for-4 with two RBI.

For TCNJ, Bullis was 3-for-5 with two RBI while Toth was 2-for-5.