Baseball
Cougars Fall To TCNJ In NJAC Championship, 8-7
Newark, N.J. (5/7/07) - Sophomore Jeff Toth (Parlin, N.J.) recorded a two-out bases loaded walk in the bottom of the ninth to break a 7-7 tie and give The College of New Jersey (32-9) their third straight New Jersey Athletic Conference Tournament Championship by defeating Kean University (34-8) by the final score of 8-7, Monday evening at Bears and Eagles Riverfront Stadium in Newark, N.J.
With the score tied at 7-all in the bottom of the ninth the Lions leadoff hitter, Bill Kropp (Pottstown, Pa.) reached on a fielding miscue. Sophomore Vince Mazzaccaro (Gloucester, N.J.) then bunted his way aboard for runners at first and second with no outs. After a successful sacrifice and runners now at second and third with one out, the Cougars elected to intentionally walk junior Dave Mebs (Cinnaminson, N.J.) to create the force out. Relief pitcher Colin Feneis (Spotswood, N.J.) then got senior Dan Czepiga (Lawrenceville, N.J.) to line out to himself for the second out of the inning. Toth then tallied a 3-1 count before recording the game winning walk to give The College of New Jersey the NJAC's automatic bid into the NCAA Division III Regional Tournament.
Leading 7-4 heading into the bottom of the eighth, the Cougars allowed three runs, including a two run blast by Blake Bullis (Delran, N.J.) all with two outs as the Lions tied the score at seven.
After a see-saw affair to start the game, Kean plated two runs in
the top of the sixth to take a 7-4 lead. Junior Ryan
Clark (Livingston, N.J.) blasted his fourth homerun of the
season, a two run shot.
Feneis (4-1) suffered the loss in tonight's game. Feneis allowed one unearned run in one inning of relief. Starter Joe Augustine (Highland Park, N.J.) received a no-decision after tossing four and two thirds innings allowing nine hits, four runs, three earned and striking out three.
Offensively Clark was 1-for-3 with two RBI while junior Maikel De La Rosa (Newark, N.J.) was 1-for-4 with a double and RBI.
Kean will face off against Felician College on Tuesday, May 8th at 3:30 pm at Jim Hynes Stadium. Kean will also honor its five seniors on Tuesday.