Union, N.J. – The College of Mount Saint Vincent strung together a pair of late inning rallies, but fell at #4 Kean on Wednesday afternoon. Junior
Joe Blackford (Stewartsville, N.J.) collected two of the Dolphins
four hits, including a triple to leadoff the ninth inning.
Kean got on the board first in the bottom half of the second inning after three base hits and a bases loaded walk. The Cougars' one run advantage would hold up until the Mount knotted the score at one run apiece in the fourth after a Mike Ruckdaschel (East Meadow, N.Y.) double down the left field line and a run scoring single from Blackford.
The Cougars would answer with a pair of runs in the home half of the fifth on the strength of a bunt base hit and a two-run home run. Dave Zavistoski led off the frame with a bunt hit to third base and then Dylan Laguna followed with a blast to left center to put the home team in front 3-1.
The Dolphins would creep back to within 3-2 in the top of the eighth without the benefit of a hit. After Christian Lavery (Westbury, N.Y.) walked and stole second and James Labartino (Holbrook, N.Y.) was hit by a pitch, senior Josh Cuozzo (Westbury, N.Y.) moved the runners along with a one out sacrifice bunt. Ruckdaschel was able to push a run across on a fielders choice to get the Mount within striking distance.
Kean, though, would answer with an all important insurance run that proved to be the game winner in the home half of the inning. The Cougars used a hit and three walks to push across a run, but reliever Rich Garcia (Garden City, N.Y.) avoided the big inning by inducing an inning ending double play with the bases loaded and one out.
Blackford led off the ninth inning with a triple and promptly scored on a John McManus (Bayside, N.Y.) sacrifice fly. The Dolphins would mange just one more base runner in the inning, as the tying run was erased on a fielder's choice with two away.
Anthony Mongelli (Flushing, N.Y.) took the hard luck lose for the Dolphins, firing 7.0 innings in his first collegiate start. He allowed four earned runs on nine hits, while striking out one. Garcia tossed one frame for the Mount, walking two.
Blackford finished the afternoon 2-3 with a run scored and an RBI, while Ruckdaschel and T.J. Laible (Rockaway, N.Y.) each also picked up base hits.
Mike Morceri went 3-4 for Kean and Laguna drove in a pair with his first collegiate round tripper. Pedro Rivera earned his first win of the season, working 7.1 innings and allowing just one earned run. He fanned six Dolphins and walked five. Brandon Aich worked the ninth for Kean and recorded his sixth save of the season.
The loss drops Mount Saint Vincent to 0-3 overall on the young season. Next up for the Dolphins is their spring trip to Ft. Pierce, Fla. The Mount will play Westminster (Pa.) in the Sunshine State in a Sunday doubleheader.
