Camden, N.J. – Stockton University (22-17) was knocked out of the NJAC Tournament with a 4-2 setback to Kean University (27-14) 4-2 in an elimination game at the Camden Athletic Complex. The Ospreys led by one run twice early, but they were overtaken by the Cougars.
 
Tony Gatti (Howell/Howell) went 3-4 with a triple and a run scored from his leadoff spot. Gatti increased his 2024 total to 62 hits, becoming the fourth Osprey in program history to reach 60 hits in a season.
 
Batting second and third respectively, Cooper Fiore (Pottstown, Pa./Pottsgrove) went 2-4 with an RBI while Jordan Nitti (Hamilton/Nottingham) was 1-3 with an RBI as the top three hitters in the Stockton order combined for six of the team's eight hits.
 
Gatti led off the game with a triple and scored on Nitti's RBI groundout two batters later for a quick 1-0 lead. Kean answered right back with a solo homer by Christian Pallone in the bottom of the first.
 
Stockton crept ahead 2-1 on an RBI single by Fiore in the top of the third but the Cougars again responded in the bottom half to tie the game 2-2. Kean took the lead with a run in the sixth inning and added one more in the seventh for the 4-2 final.
 
The Ospreys generated opportunities in the fifth and seventh frames but left two runners on base in each. Rob Jeans (Toms River/TR North) allowed three runs and struck out four in six innings pitched, but he was saddled with the loss.
 
Pallone finished 3-4 with a double, homer, three runs and an RBI for Kean. Cougars' pitcher Rob Salvatore tossed a complete game and held the Ospreys in check, allowing two runs on eight hits while throwing 131 pitches.
 
Stockton has one more game on the schedule as the Ospreys are slated to host Mary Washington (Va.) in a non-conference tilt on Tuesday at 3:30 p.m.