Union, N.J. (2/23/24) – Gianni Marano launched a two out, three run homer in the bottom of the ninth to walk it off against #11 Misericordia University by the final of 11-10.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

It was a typical "battle of the Cougars" as the game see-sawed until the final at bat.

Kean (4-1) was first to strike with two runs in the bottom of the second as Phil Marcantonio hit his first homer of the season, a solo shot and later an RBI single from Kyle Adorno, scoring CJ Tomalavage, who reached on a double.

Misericordia (1-2) took the lead in the next half inning with three RBI hits, including a double from Brock Bollinger.

Misericordia blew the game open in the top of the fourth with two big homeruns, a three run shot from Bollinger and a two run blast from Connor Maryniak, to take a 10-2 lead.

Kean chipped away and scored three times in the bottom of the same inning with Marcantonio leading off with his second homer of the day. Later in the inning, Tyler Stone recorded his first homerun, a three run shot, to cut the deficit to 10-6.

The score would remain that way until the pivotal bottom of the ninth.  Adorno walked with one out and advanced all the way to third on a dropped outfield fly.  Pinch-hitter JT Abrusci lofted a sac fly to cut the score to 10-7 with two outs.  Justin Teixeira kept the game alive with a single and pinch-hitter Trevor Coltenback drove in one more with an RBI single.  That set up Marano who took the first pitch he saw from Maryniak, who just moved to the mound.  Marano's ball cleared the 375 sign in left centerfield, completing the comeback.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

Rob Salvatore earned his first win of the season with a stellar relief appearance of five and two thirds innings, allowing just one run and five hits while striking out three.

Offensively Stone and Marano each finished with three RBI for Kean.

For Misericordia, Jack Regenye was 4-for-4 while Bollinger collected four RBI.

UP NEXT:

Kean hosts SUNY Old Westbury on Saturday at noon.