Baseball

Cougars Pound Out 25 Hits; Defeat NJCU, 19-4

Jersey City, N.J. (4/18/08) - Sophomore Mike Moceri (Yardville, N.J.) was 3-for-3 with three RBI as Kean jumped out to an 18-0 lead and defeated New Jersey City University, 19-4, in NJAC action Friday afternoon.

With the win KU improves to 25-8 and 9-4 in the league. NJCU (9-23, 1-11 NJAC) loses its 10th straight.

Kean scored five in the first inning, seven in the second, and four in the third for a 16-0 advantage before adding single runs in the fourth, sixth and eighth innings. NJCU scored two runs in both the eighth and ninth innings. Kean, which used 19 position players-14 of whom collected at least one hit-posted 25 total hits as a team. The Cougars had nine players with multiple hits.

Senior shortstop Maikel De La Rosa (Newark, N.J.) was 3-for-4 with two runs and two RBIs. Sophomore first baseman Nick Nolan (Linden, N.J.) (pictured right) and senior leftfielder Eric Ammirata (Hamilton, N.J.) each went 2-for-3 with two RBIs.

The right field position was productive for Kean as senior Derek Gianakas (Edison, N.J.) was 2-for-2 with two runs and two walks and freshman Michael Mattonelli (Hamilton, N.J.) added a 2-for-3 showing off the bench. Older brother, senior designated hitter Dan Mattonelli (Hamilton, N.J.) chipped in two RBIs and two runs, going 1-for-3.

Kean got two hits apiece from senior centerfielder Bryan Burke (Lindenhurst, N.Y.), freshman second baseman Michael Hohman (Spotswood, N.J), and senior catcher Kevin O'Neill (Union, N.J.).

Rob Sumner (Union, N.J.) was 2-for-5 with two runs and an RBI for the Gothic Knights.

Senior Andy Cupido (South Plainfield, N.J.) (pictured left) improved to 2-0 for Kean. In six shutout innings, he allowed only five hits, all singles, and struck out six with no walks.

Kean visits Rutgers-Camden for a 4 p.m. NJAC doubleheader on Saturday.