Box Score

UNION, NJ - A two-run homer by junior right fielder Jimmy Napolitano provided Rutgers-Newark's only runs in a 9-2 New Jersey Athletic Conference loss to No. 1 ranked Kean in Jim Hynes Stadium.

Napolitano swatted his second round-tripper of the season against Cougar ace Kevin Herget (4-2) with two out in the seventh inning - a  batter after freshman third baseman Brian Kokos roped a double down the left field line.

But those along with a third-inning single through the middle by senior left fielder Matt Larangera were the only hits allowed by Herget who struck out five and walked four in seven full innings of work.  Nick Zucchero blanked the Scarlet Raiders over the final two innings without allowing a hit.

Senior shortstop Nick Ramagli powered the Cougar's 15-hit attack by going four for five with a two-run triple in the sixth, a double in the first, and RBI singles in the third and fourth innings.

Raider freshman right-hander Chris Nichols (0-1) took the loss, yielding five earned runs on nine hits while striking out three in five innings of work.  Senior reliever Tyler Kwiatek gave up three runs on five hits in two innings before junior lefty Ryan Staub shutout the Cougars on one hit in the eighth.

Kean (24-6, NJAC 8-2), which suffered a shocking 5-1 loss to New Jersey City in the opening game of an NJAC twin bill on Saturday, jumped into sole possession of first place in the 10-team league.  William Paterson is a game back in the win column with a Monday contest against The College of New Jersey separating the teams.

Rutgers-Newark (7-22, NJAC 2-8) suffered its fifth straight loss while Kean completed a sweep of the regular-season home-and-away series against the Raiders.

The Raiders travel to Alvernia (21-8) on Tuesday for a 3:30 p.m. non-conference contest before returning to NJAC play at Ramapo College on Thursday in Mahwah.

Rutgers-Newark hosts Ramapo in Bears & Eagles Riverfront Stadium on Friday before welcoming Richard Stockton for an NJAC doubleheader on Saturday at noon.