NEWARK, NJ (March 28, 2008) – Freshman second baseman Matt Connors (Hasbrouck Heights, NJ/Hasbrouck Heights) was the only Rutgers-Newark player with more than one hit as #9 Kean posted a 13-1 New Jersey Athletic Conference win at Bears & Eagles Riverfront Stadium.

NCAA Statistics

The Scarlet Raiders (8-9, NJAC 1-1) saw a three-game winning streak snapped.Senior rightfielder Derek Gianakas drove in five runs with a pair of home runs and senior righthander Thomas Paglione turned in the first nine-inning complete game of his career for Kean. 

Connors went two for four and drove in Rutgers-Newark's only run in the third. Freshman shortstop Patrick Reitemeyer (Kearny, NJ/St. Mary's) score the run after leading off the inning with a double.

The defending NCAA Division III National Champion Cougars (16-5, NJAC 1-1) piled up 16 hits with Gianakas adding a double to his total to finish the day by going three for three with three runs scored. Gianakas highlighted a five-run, five-hit first inning with a three-run shot over the left field wall. He hammered a two-run homer to left to key a five-run, five-hit fifth inning for the Cougars.

Paglione (2-0) gave up 10 hits, struck out five and walked no one for the easy win.

Kean got two hits and a pair of RBI apiece from senior centerfielder Bryan Burke, sophomore second baseman Michael Morceri and freshman first baseman Jared Orgel.

Rutgers-Newark hosts The College of New Jersey in an NJAC doubleheader in the stadium tomorrow at 11:30 a.m. while Kean travels to Rowan for a noon conference twinbill.