BOX SCORE
Boyertown, Pa. (May 17, 2007) – Senior first baseman Aaron Richard (Plainfield, N.J.) went 4-for-5 with six RBI and top-seeded Kean University posted a 13-9 come-from-behind win over #4 Gwynedd-Mercy Thursday evening in game seven of the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Baseball Regional at Bear Stadium.
Kean scored a single run in the top of the first on a sacrifice fly by Dan Mattonelli (Hamilton, N.J.). The Griffins took the lead with three runs in the bottom of the second inning on a walk and three base hits, but Kean answered with three runs of its own including a two-run homer by Richard.
Gwynedd-Mercy made it three straight 3-run innings tagging Kean starter Andrew Cupido (South Plainfield, N.J.) for three runs in the home half of the second. Sophomore third baseman Tim McMenamin (Maple Shade, N.J.) launched his second home run of the regional during the inning.
For the second time in as many innings the Cougars mounted a comeback, this time posting two runs in the third to knot the score at 6-all. Kean scored twice in the frame on two hits and one GMC error.
The Cougars plated another run in the sixth for a slim 7-6 lead. Richard knocked in his third run of the game on his third straight hit, a one-out infield single that plated Derek Gianakas (Edison, N.J.) from second.
The Griffins posted their third 3-run inning of the day in the bottom of the seventh for a 9-7 lead, but Kean answered once again with six runs in the eighth for the 13-9 final. In the eighth, the Cougars sent 10 batters to the plate and racked up six runs on three hits, two walks, and three hit batsmen.
Gwynedd-Mercy had one runner in the eighth, but Brandon Aich (Sayreville, N.J.) set down six straight to end the game.
Kean will face #3 Johns Hopkins in the winners bracket final Friday at 1:00 p.m. Gwynedd-Mercy will face the winner of tomorrow morning’s Elizabethtown/College of New Jersey game.
#1 Kean 13, #4 Gwynedd-Mercy 9