BOX SCORE

Lakewood, N.J. (May 22, 2011) – Top-seeded Kean University (41-9) used small ball to plate nine runs on 11 hits and force the if-necessary game with a 9-4 win over No. 3 Alvernia University (38-8) Sunday afternoon at the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Baseball Regional at FirstEnergy Park.

The Cougars scored on back-to-back squeeze plays in the third and in all laid down eight bunt attempts over nine innings. Alvernia scored all four of its runs in the bottom of the third on three hits a walk, and an error.

Kean started to pressure the Alvernia defense with some small ball in the top of the third. After a clean single down the line by Eddie Jennings, Nick Ramagli laid down a sacrifice attempt that Aaron Carman (Robesonia, Pa./Conrad Weiser) threw out of play putting runners at second and third with no one out.

The Cougars executed a suicide squeeze perfectly for the first run of the game then speedy leadoff hitter Vinny Galya dropped down another and the Crusaders came home, but not in time to get Nick Ramagli who slid in with the second run of the game.

Alvernia starter Mike Moran (Lafayette, N.Y./Fabius-Pompey) got the second out of the inning on a fly ball to right then after a walk, ended the frame with a grounder to Eric Domitrovits (Northampton, Pa./Northampton) at first.

The Crusaders responded immediately to the deficit. Matt O'Neil (West Chester, Pa./Henderson) started with a walk and Brian Witkowski (Ewing, N.J./Notre Dame) ripped a one-out single to right. Commonwealth Conference Player of the Year Chris Ray (Exton, Pa./Henderson) drove in the first run for the Crusaders with an RBI-double to left center. Travis Wrambel (Newtown Square, Pa./Marple Newtown) walked to load the bases then the inning got a little crazy.

Carman ripped a ball inside the bag at third, but it caught the umpire on the shin and stayed in the infield momentarily costing the Crusaders a run as Ray rounded third aggressively but had to scamper back as the third baseman retrieved the ball. Domitrivits went down 0-2 and slapped a dead double play ball to short, but it went right through the wickets of Tyler Smarslok allowing Ray and Wrambel to score. Reid Martin (Ephrata, Pa./Ephrata) hit a nearly identical grounder to short and Smarslok stepped on second but threw wild to first. Carman tried to score all the way from second on the play, but was thrown out at the plate.

Kean answered with four more in the top of the fifth. After a leadoff single from Ramagli, Smarslok and Gayla reached on back-to-back bunt singles. Chris Carrano followed with a two-run double and Lee Cavico, the NJAC Player of the Year, dropped a bunt single to third to drive in a run. Domitrovits made a nice play on a hot grounder to start a 3-6-3 double play, but another run came in on the play.

The Cougars padded their lead with three more in the eighth. Ken Gregory led off with a double and Carman fielded the sac from Shane Alvarez and had a shot at Gregory at third, but his throw eluded Martin covering and Gregory scored and Alvarez moved up. Nick Nolan sacrificed Alvarez to third and Eddie Jennings was hit by a pitch. He broke early on a steal attempt and Cody Smith (Hanover, Pa./Delone Catholic), who relieved Moran to start the eighth, threw to Ray, the second baseman and Alvarez broke for home. Ray's throw to the plate short-hopped O'Neil and the Cougars took a 9-4 lead.

Alvenria put the first two on in the eighth, but Kean turned a double play with a strikeout and a pick-off. The Crusaders also put a runner on in the ninth, but failed to score.

Witkoski, Ray, and Domitrovits all had two hits apiece for the Crusaders. Carrano and Smarslok both drove in a pair for the Cougars.

The two teams turn right around and play the if necessary game starting at 2:25.

Kean 9, Alvernia 4