BOX SCORE
Lakewood, NJ (May 17, 2012) – Third-seeded Alvernia (31-13-1) fell to second-seeded Kean University (35-10) by a score of 12-4 this evening in NCAA Regional action at FirstEnergy Field. Kean posted three runs in the second and six more in the third for a big, early lead and never looked back. With the loss, the Crusaders drop down to the loser's bracket and will face fifth-seeded Neumann College Friday afternoon at 1:15pm.
Kean struck for three runs in the bottom of the second inning. Three straight singles started the inning to plate a run, and after a sacrifice bunt and a walk, another single plated the second run. A Crusader error on a botched fielder's choice allowed another run across, but the Crusaders escaped any further damage with a bases-loaded, line-out double play.
Despite four base runners through the first three innings, including leaving the bases loaded in the third, Alvernia was unable to manage a hit or plate a run, with seven of their first nine outs coming from strikeouts.
In the bottom of the third inning, Kean led-off with another three straight singles to score a run. After a stolen base, a sacrifice fly scored another, and a hit batter and a balk set the stage for another single that plated a run. Two more singles from Kean followed, plus another sacrifice fly to plate the sixth run of the inning, giving Kean a healthy 9-0 edge heading into the fourth.
The Crusaders got a run back in the top of the sixth as
Richie Ricciardi (Manalapan, NJ/Manalapan) connected for a one-out double to left-field and came around to score on an RBI-single up the middle from
Kevin Bailey (Fallston, Md./Fallston).
Kean tacked on two more, for the 11-1 lead in the bottom of the sixth after a walk, double and Alvernia error started the inning and plated a run. A sacrifice fly to center field scored the 11th run of the game for Kean. Another run, off a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the eighth put Kean up 12-1.
Alvernia managed some life in the top of the ninth, plating three runs to close the gap slightly.
Dustin Stuck (Palmyra, Pa./Palmyra) laced a double to right center to score one, and another came across on a fielder's choice. A reach-on-error from
Brian Witkowski (Palmyra, Pa./Palmyra) plated Alvernia's fourth and final run of the game.
Kean 12, Alvernia 4