Union, N.J. (Mar. 10, 2015) - Junior starter Matt Backlund scattered four hits over seven innings and senior closer Kevin Becker-Menditto worked a six-out save as Alvernia University (7-4) defeated #6 Kean University (5-1) by a 5-4 final Tuesday afternoon in non-conference baseball action at Jim Hynes Stadium.

Dan George broke a scoreless tie in the second with a two-out, two-run double to the gap in right, then broke a 4-4 tie in the fifth with an RBI single up the middle to score Chris Burns with the eventual winning run.

Backlund allowed four earned runs on four hits with five walks and three strikeouts.  He departed after completing the seventh inning by stranding a pair of runners with a comebacker to the mound.

Becker-Menditto recorded a 1-2-3 inning in the eight on 10 pitches. He got the first two outs in the ninth then allowed a two-out baserunner when he plunked Kean leadoff hitter Matt Meleo on a 3-1 pitch.  Meleo stole second, but was caught in a rundown and tagged out by senior shortstop Richie Ricciardi when he wandered too far off the bag at second.

Burns, Cameron Coons, George, and Brok Martin all picked up two hits on the day.  Martin's RBI-single made it 3-1, Alvernia in the fourth and Ben Dubas drew a bases-loaded walk for a 4-1 lead.

Kean tied the game at 4-all with three runs in the home half of the fourth on two hits and a pair of Crusader errors.

Alvernia took the lead in the fifth when Burns singled up the middle, took second on a walk to Coons, advanced to third on a wild pitch, and scored on George's single.

Alvernia had its game at Rowan on Wednesday postponed due to weather and is schedule to open the conference schedule Friday at Stevenson.

Alvernia 5, #6 Kean 4