Galloway, NJ –Stockton University (3-5, 1-3 NJAC) staged a furious ninth inning rally, but fell one run short, as the Ospreys fell 7-6 to Kean University (7-6, 2-2 NJAC) on Friday afternoon.
Ryan Swift (Sewell/Washington Twp.) and rookie
Matt Storch (South Brunswick/South Brunswick) led the squad with two hits each on the day.
The Cougars started off quickly plating two runs in the first inning, on three hits and an error for a 2-0 lead, before Stockton answered with a pair of their own.
Marco Meleo (Freehold/Freehold Boro) singled, advanced on a wild pitch and scored on a Swift RBI double. Swift got to third base on a ground out, then scored on a
Luke Fabrizzi (Old Bridge/Old Bridge) infield hit to knot the game at 2-2.
Kean scored single runs in the second, fourth, fifth and a pair of runs in the seventh frame for what looked to be a commanding 7-2 lead. But the Ospreys battled back, scoring a run in their half of the seventh inning.
Sam Nieves (South Plainfield/South Plainfield walked and stole second base. Storch reached on an error that scored Nieves to slice the margin to 7-3.
Neither team would score in the eighth inning, setting up a furious ninth inning rally for Stockton.
Fabrizzi walked, Nieves and
Dominic Meleo (Freehold/St. Peter's Prep) were both hit by pitches loading the bases with one out. Storch singled to right, his second hit of the day and garnering his first career RBI to cut the lead to 7-4.
Marco Meleo hit a sacrifice fly scoring Nieves to make it 7-5, then Swift plated
Dominic Meleo to make a one run affair.
A grounder ended the game as Stockton fell one run short, as Kean swept the home and home series by the 7-6 final.
Swift drove in a pair of runs while Nieves scored twice, and Storch rapping his first two collegiate hits and picking up his first RBI.
Aaron Winsker (Baltimore, MD/Hereford) took the loss, tossing six innings on the hill and allowing just two earned runs.
Three Osprey relievers,
Andrew Luongo (Manahawkin/Southern Regional),
Evan Okamoto (Piscataway/Piscataway) and
Tyler Apt (Williamstown/Williamstown) finished up the final three innings scattering four hits and allowing two runs, but none earned.
For the Cougars, Frank LoGiudice and Christian Pellone had three hits each, with Pellone and Phil Marcantonio scoring twice. Collin Kiernan earned his first win of the season, with Daniel Chiusano picking up his first save of the year.
The Ospreys will be back in action tomorrow, as they will travel to Montclair, NJ for an NJAC doubleheader against Montclair State. First pitch is scheduled for 11:30 am.
