Augustine Leads Kean Past Stevens, 4-0

HOBOKEN, N.J. (2/24/07) - Senior Joe Augustine (Highland Park, N.J.) tossed eight and a third innings of one hit ball to lead the Kean University (1-0) baseball team to its first victory of the 2007 season by defeating Stevens Institute of Technology, 4-0, Saturday afternoon at Dobbelaar Field.

Despite the cold conditions, the Cougars pounced early as junior leadoff batter Maikel De La Rosa (Newark, N.J.) started off the season with a solo shot over the centerfield fence. Senior Joe D'Andrea (Hamilton, N.J.) tacked on another run in the first as he scored on a double play after reaching on a walk.

D'Andrea recorded the game's third run in the fifth inning as he crossed the plate on a wild pitch after again reaching on a walk. The Cougars registered their final run of the game in the top of the eighth as senior Perry Schatzow (Ocean Twp. N.J.) recorded an RBI single into centerfield, scoring junior Dan Mattonelli (Hamilton, N.J.) who reached on a leadoff double.

Augustine (1-0) picked up his first win on the mound. Augustine tossed 8.1 innings allowing just one hit (in the ninth) while also fanning 13 and walking just two. Junior Andrew Cupido (South Plainfield, N.J.) closed out the game with two thirds of an inning of shutout ball. Sophomore Alex Sota (Lancaster, Pa.) took the loss for the Ducks (0-2) as he allowed two runs and five hits while walking two batters and striking out one in four innings of work.

Offensively, Mattonelli led the way for Kean with a 4-for-4 performance including a double. Junior Derek Gianakas (Edison, N.J.) and freshman Matt Donoghue (Old Bridge, N.J.) each had a hit in the win.

Freshman Russ Grimes (South Brunswick, N.J.) had the lone hit for the Ducks in the ninth inning.