Baseball

Richard Drives In Six As Kean Moves Past Gwynedd-Mercy, 13-9

Boyertown, Pa. (5/17/07) - Senior first baseman Aaron Richard (Plainfield, N.J.) went 4-for-5 with six RBI as top-seeded Kean University posted a 13-9 come-from-behind win over #4 Gwynedd-Mercy Thursday evening in game seven of the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Baseball Regional at Bear Stadium.

Kean scored a single run in the top of the first on a sacrifice fly by Dan Mattonelli (Hamilton, N.J.).  The Griffins took the lead with three runs in the bottom of the second inning on a walk and three base hits, but Kean answered with three runs of its own including a two-run homer by Richard.

Gwynedd-Mercy made it three straight 3-run innings as they scored three runs in their half of the third.  Sophomore third baseman Tim McMenamin (Maple Shade, N.J.) launched his second home run of the regional during the inning.

For the second time in as many innings the Cougars mounted a comeback, this time posting two runs in the fourth to knot the score at 6-all.  Kean scored twice in the frame on two hits and one GMC error.

The Cougars plated another run in the sixth for a slim 7-6 lead.  Richard knocked in his third run of the game on his third straight hit, a one-out infield single that plated Derek Gianakas (Edison, N.J.) from second.

The Griffins posted their third 3-run inning of the day in the bottom of the seventh for a 9-7 lead, but Kean answered once again with six runs in the eighth for the 13-9 final.  In the eighth, the Cougars sent 10 batters to the plate and racked up six runs on three hits, two walks, and three hit batsmen.

Gwynedd-Mercy had one runner in the eighth, but Brandon Aich (Sayreville, N.J.) set down six straight to end the game.

Aich improved to 3-1 with the win in relief.  He tossed 6 and a 1/3 innings allowing three runs, one earned, as well as five hits.

Offensively Kevin O'Neill (Union, N.J.) and Gianakas each drove in two.

Kean will face #3 Johns Hopkins in the winners bracket final Friday at 1:00 p.m.  Gwynedd-Mercy will face the winner of tomorrow morning's Elizabethtown/College of New Jersey game.