Box Score

UNION, N.J. – Kean head coach Neil Ioviero earned his 300th career victory (300-130-2) as No. 10 Kean (19-05, 4-1 NJAC) held on for a 12-8 victory against William Paterson (13-7, 3-1 NJAC) April 3, ending the Pioneers' six-game win streak.

KU got on the board early and often after plating 10 runs in the first six innings of action, including five in the bottom of the sixth. Catcher Kevin O'Neill started off the inning with a double, and Eric Ammirata pushed him across the plate with a RBI-single. Derek Gianakas followed that up with a triple to give the Cougars a 7-0 advantage. Senior Dan Mattonelli kept the offense going with a RBI-single of his own, and later in the inning with the bases loaded, pinch-runner Gabe Ramirez crossed the plate on a balk and sophomore Chris Carrano rounded out the scoring with a sacrifice fly, making it a 10-0 game after six.

The Pioneers got right back into things, putting up five runs of their own in the top of the seventh. Junior Will Courter (Roseland, N.J./West Essex) provided the big blow with a two-out, two-RBI single.

Kean added insurance runs in the bottom of the same inning as Ammirata registered an RBI-triple and later scored on a wild pitch.

On the mound, sophomore Joe Bartlinski picked up his fourth win of the season as he tossed seven innings, allowing five runs, all unearned, as well as five hits. Bartlinski (4-1) also walked three and struck out four. Senior Steve Schlitzer (West New York, N.J./Memorial) suffered the loss after throwing five innings. He (1-2) allowed 10 hits and five runs (four earned) while also striking out two.

Offensively, Ammirata was 4-for-5 with a triple, while Gianakas was 3-for-5 with a triple for the Cougars. For the Pioneers, senior Dan Limone (Teaneck, N.J./Teaneck) finished the day with a 2-for-3 performance and three RBI.

The Pioneers will host Rutgers-Newark Friday, April 4, at 3:30 p.m.