Madison, N.J. (3/1/26) – On Sunday, Kean University’s baseball team faced Cortland, resulting in a tough split. They lost the first game and tied the second due to darkness.
Cortland 12, Kean 10 (Game One)
This game was a thrilling back-and-forth battle, featuring an impressive 30 combined hits. Kean quickly fell behind 3-0 in the first inning but rallied to equalize with three runs of their own. Jude Clough contributed with an RBI single, followed by John Chiusano’s two-RBI hit.
Midway through the eighth, Cortland took a 9-6 lead, but Kean roared back with four runs in that same inning. Michael Simone’s pinch-hit, bases-clearing double was a highlight, and Nick Sellari added to the lead with an RBI single.
However, the Red Dragons clinched the game in the ninth. They loaded the bases before delivering a bases-clearing double that shifted the score to 12-10.
Kean 4, Cortland 4 (Game Two)
The second game started with Cortland scoring in the third inning. Kean tied it up in the fourth thanks to Clough, who reached base and advanced on wild pitches. Brett Hilsheimer brought him in with a groundout.
In the fifth, Kean took a 3-1 lead with hits from Sellari and Dominic Masino, ending with Justin Teixeira’s two-run single. But Cortland quickly leveled the game with three singles and a sacrifice fly.
Clough doubled in the seventh and scored on Simone’s single, but Cortland responded again. A wild pitch allowed a runner to reach base, and a timely single brought the game to a 4-4 tie.
As darkness fell, the umpires called the game in the eighth with both teams unable to score. Kean has a game lined up against Arcadia University this week before heading to Texas. This season, team’s performances highlight the ever-evolving competitive landscape of college baseball.
Recent studies show baseball participation is on the rise among youth, suggesting a bright future for the sport. According to the USA Baseball, youth participation jumped by 14% in 2022, reflecting a growing interest in the game. As college teams like Kean build their talent, the exciting dynamics of this sport continue to attract fans and players alike.
