Baseball

Cougars Claw Past Centenary, 7-1

Union, N.J. (3/11/08) - Sophomore Nick Cesare (South Plainfield, N.J.) picked up his first win while sophomore Nick Nolan (Linden, N.J.) drove in two runs as #10 Kean University defeated visiting Centenary College, 7-1, Tuesday afternoon at Jim Hynes Stadium.

With the win the Cougars improve to 7-2 overall while the Cyclones fall to 0-2.

Centenary got on the board first as they plated a single run in the top of the third.  Junior Jayson Loder (Bethlehem, Pa.) led off the inning with a walk and after consecutive groundouts moved his way around to third before scoring on a passed ball.

The Cougars broke the game wide open in the bottom of the fifth as KU dropped down three consecutive bunts with the bases-loaded to drive in three.  The last bunt by senior Derek Gianakas (Edison, N.J.) was then kicked away off the line into the Cougar dugout to force in senior Maikel De La Rosa (Newark, N.J.) (pictured right) who started the bunt parade.  Nolan would later drive in two with a double to leftfield and Orgel rounded out the scoring with an RBI single as KU batted around.

On the mound, Cesare tossed six innings allowing one unearned run while also striking out seven and walking three.  Juniors Joe Rizzo (Staten Island, N.Y.) (pictured left) and Matt Grinkevich (Allentown, N.J.) threw a combined three shutout innings allowing a hit apiece while also striking out a combined three.

Offensively, senior Bryan Burke (Lindenhurst, N.Y.) was 2-for-3 with an RBI and run scored while Nolan was 2-for-3.

The Cougars will enjoy a couple days off before heading out to sunny California.  First game is Saturday, March 15, with a doubleheader at LaVerne beginning at noon pacific time.