Baseball Takes Down Kean, 7-2

Union, NJ| The St. Joseph's College baseball team earned a 7-2 non-conference win over Kean University Tuesday evening at Jim Hynes Stadium.

The Golden Eagles even out at 7-7 on the season with the Cougars sliding to 8-12.

SJC wasted no time getting on the board when an RBI single off the bat of Michael Ferrufino drove in Anthony Raucci who was hit by a pitch to start the game.

The Cougars retaliated in the bottom half of the first when three straight singles and a Golden Eagle throwing error tied the score at one. A sacrifice fly followed putting the home team ahead 2-1.

Tyler Costa led off the top of the second with a single up the middle and stole second to move into scoring position. Two batters later, Costa advanced to third on a failed pickoff attempt and came into score on an RBI single by Tyler Crafa. After a stolen base on a wild pitch, Crafa stood at third with one out and three consecutive walks loaded the bases and pushed him home for the second run of the inning. Ferrufino followed with a sacrifice fly to left sending in Raucci and giving the Golden Eagles a 4-2 lead.

The Golden Eagles added some distance in the top of the seventh when an RBI double in the left-center gap by Tyler Sanderson drove in Paul Britt who started the inning with a base hit to left.

After SJC starter Nick Mannarino retired the Cougars in order in the bottom half of the seventh, Lou Doria provided some more insurance with a 2 RBI double down the right-field line moving the score to its final 7-2.

Seven Golden Eagles recorded hits with Crafa finishing 3-for-5 with two runs scored and an RBI.

Mannarino picked up his first win of the season allowing just two runs, one earned, on nine hits and three strikeouts in a complete game effort.

Kean's Jonathan Rodriguez suffered the loss allowing four runs on three hits in 1.1 innings of work.

The Golden Eagles are back on the road when they take on William Paterson University tomorrow, March 28. Game time is set for 4:00 pm.