Union, N.J. (February 14, 2026) - Alvernia University (1-0) scored five of its seven runs in the final four innings en route to a 7-3 victory over #4 Kean University (2-1) Saturday afternoon in a non-conference baseball matchup at Kean's Jim Hynes Stadium. 

The Cougars were ranked #4 in the D3Baseball preseason poll after going to the DIII World Series a year ago. 

The Golden Wolves jumped out to an early lead with runs in the third and fourth innings. Kean responded with a run in the fourth and a two spot in the bottom of the fifth to take a 3-2 lead through five innings of play. The Golden Wolves bounced back with three runs in the sixth and tacked on two more insurance runs in the top of the ninth en route to the 7-3 victory. Chris Sasso, Nick Ferraioli and Matt Mays all tossed three innings a piece for the Golden Wolves with Ferraioli earning the win and Mays tallying the save. 

How it Happened 

• The Golden Wolves struck first in the top half of the third after two straight scoreless frames from both teams. Logan Nelson opened up the top of the third with a walk and then advanced to second via a Jake Chapman sacrifice bunt. Quincy Esannason then stepped into the box and laced an RBI double down the right field line that scored Nelson and gave the Golden Wolves a 1-0 lead early in the ballgame. 
• Alvernia tacked on another run in the fourth after some more solid baseball to make it 2–0. Bobby Hansen started things off for the Golden Wolves with a leadoff single to left field. Jack Zabarsky moved Hansen over to second after a groundout to second base that brought up Harold Ivery III to the plate. Ivery III then singled up the middle which was just enough to allow Hansen to score and give the Golden Wolves a two run advantage. 
• Kean got on the board in the bottom half of the inning after an RBI ground out to first base allowed a runner to score and pull the Cougars within one, 2-1. Alvernia's Nick Ferraioli, who came on in relief for starter Chris Sasso, settled in and struck out the final batter of the inning to preserve the one run lead for the Golden Wolves. 
• Sasso finished his opening day start with three innings pitched, struck out three batters on 53 pitches and did not allow a hit. Sasso did issue four free bases but did not allow a run. 
• The Golden Wolves would go 1,2,3 in the top of the fourth inning before the Cougars grabbed the lead after a two run single to left center to give Kean the 3-2 advantage, its first of the game. 
• Alvernia bounced back in the top half of the sixth inning with a three spot that swung the lead back in its favor, 5-3. Zabarsky got on base with one out in the inning after being hit by a pitch and then advanced to second on a wild pitch. Ivery III then pushed Zabarsky over to third after he singled to right center before William Woodring ripped an RBI single into left field that scored Zabarsky and tied the game at three. 
• Logan Nelson then worked a walk and loaded the bases for the Golden Wolves with Chapman stepping into the box. Chapman then singled to right field that scored Ivery III and gave the Golden Wolves the lead again, 4-3, and chased the Kean starting pitcher Lucas White. The Golden Wolves then extended their lead to two after a sacrifice fly off the bat of Esannason that scored Woodring and made it a 5-3 ballgame. 
• Alvernia's Ferraioli would feed off of the energy of the Golden Wolves offense and shut the Cougars down 1,2,3 in the bottom half of the sixth inning and capped off the frame strikeout looking to send it to the top of the seventh inning with Alvernia holding a 5-3 lead. 
• Alvernia's Matt Mays came on in relief for Ferraioli and shut the Cougars down in the seventh and eighth innings as the game headed to the top of the ninth with the Golden Wolves still up two runs, 5-3. 
• The Golden Wolves tacked on two more runs in the top of the ninth inning and extended their lead to 7-3. Hansen reached on a throwing error by the Kean catcher and then advanced to second. Zabarsky then worked a walk and he and Hansen moved up to second and third after a wild pitch. The Cougars chose to load the bases with one out in the inning and intentionally put Ivery III on first base with thoughts of an inning ending double play with Woodring at the plate. Woodring had other plans as he laced a two RBI single up the middle that scored Hansen and Collin McCarron to make it a 7-3 Alvernia lead. 
• Alvernia then closed out the game thanks to another scoreless inning of relief from senior Matt Mays as the Golden Wolves knocked off the #4 ranked Cougars, 7-3. 

Inside the Box Score 

• Chris Sasso started the game on the hill for the Golden Wolves and posted 3 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 4 BB and 3 K's. 
• Nick Ferraioli came on in relief of Sasso and also posted 3 IP, allowed 3 H, 3 ER, 3 BB, 3 K's and earned the win. 
• Matt Mays relieved Ferraioli and posted three scoreless innings, allowed just one hit and struck out four batters to earn the save. 
• Harold Ivery III posted a 4-4 day to open his junior campaign and added an RBI, a run scored and worked a walk. 
• William Woodring drove in a team high three RBI in a 2-4 day in his Alvernia debut and also scored a run. 
• Quincy Esannanson tallied two RBI and a double, Bobby Hansen scored two runs and Logan Nelson scored a run and worked two walks. 

Up Next 

• The Golden Wolves are back in action next Saturday when they head to Lancaster, Pa to take on Morvian in a neutral site game at Clipper Magazine Stadium at 12:00 PM.