Little Falls, NJ – Sophomore rightfielder
SCOTT EVANGELIST (Northfield, NJ/Holy Spirit) lofted a one-out sacrifice fly with the bases loaded in the bottom of the 10 th inning to plate the winning run as Montclair State edged No. 7 Kean University, 2-1 in the New Jersey Athletic Conference opener for both teams at Yogi Berra Stadium on Thursday afternoon.
The victory snapped a three-game losing streak for Montclair , which improved to 8-7 overall, while Kean falls to 8-3 in having its two-game winning streak snapped. It is the second straight season at Yogi Berra Stadium that the teams needed extra innings to decide a winner. Last year, MSU prevailed 7-6 in 11 innings.
Montclair State 's
JAIRO MENDEZ ( Kearny , NJ / Kearny ) nearly had a four-hit shutout to his credit until the Red Hawks committed two errors in the ninth inning allowing the Cougars to tie the game. Eric Ammirata ( Hamilton , NJ /Hamilton West) singled to lead off the inning, but Mendez got a double play to get within an out of the victory. Kean then got life as Derek Gianakis ( Edison , NJ /Edison) and Perry Schatzow ( Ocean Township , NJ / Ocean Township ) reached on back-to-back errors putting runners at the corner. Pinch-hitter Mike Shymanski ( Edison , NJ /Edison) was down to his last strike before lining a 2-2 pitch up the middle to score Gianakis with the tying run. Freshman
JESUS CASTANO ( West New York , NJ /Memorial) would relieve Mendez and get the next out to end the inning.
After Dan Zeffiro ( Old Bridge , NJ / Old Bridge ) sent the game into extra innings with a 1-2-3 ninth, Castano answered retiring the side in order in the 10 th. In the bottom of the inning, Zeffiro got the first batter, however two Kean errors proved costly as pinch-hitter
ERIC JOHNSON (Whippany, NJ/Whippany Park) reached on the first miscue and
MICHAEL NUNES (Hazlet, NJ/Raritan) followed with a base hit to put runners at first and second.
JOSEPH ZEMBRYSKI ( Rutherford , NJ /St. Peter's Prep) lined a ball to right field that was dropped, allowing Montclair to load the bases. Zeffiro would get ahead two strikes before Evangelist was able to connect on a fly ball to deep right field that easily scored Johnson with the winning run.
Castano picked up the win as he improved to 3-1. Mendez allowed five hits and the unearned run in 8 2/3 innings, striking out eight and walking one. Zeffiro was saddled with the loss despite a solid performance, yielding two runs (one earned) and six hits in 9 2/3 innings. He too fanned eight and walked only one in falling to 2-1 on the year.
Mendez and Zeffiro matched zeroes on the board until the bottom of the fifth inning.
LOU POLITAN ( Livingston , NJ /Livingston) singled to open the inning and Rob Clark ( Livingston , NJ /Seton Hall Prep) followed with a base hit through the left side. After a flyout,
JAMES SCELZO ( Staten Island , NY /Petrides) singled through the right side with Politan sliding in at home plate just ahead of the throw from right field for a 1-0 MSU lead.
Mendez made the lead stick until the final inning as he retired nine straight until the Ammirata single in the ninth.
Gianakis finished 2-for-4 for Kean.
Both teams are in action on Friday, March 30. Montclair State will travel to Ramapo to face the Roadrunners in a 3:00 pm NJAC matchup.
