UNION, N.J. (March 22, 2017)  – The Stevens Institute of Technology baseball team used a three-run rally to overcome an early deficit, but fell to No. 25 Kean University, 4-3, Wednesday afternoon.

Senior Zeph Walters had two hits and freshman Patrick Rood drove in a pair of runs for the Ducks (5-9-1).

Tyler Hopman (2-1) allowed three runs on seven hits in pitching his fourth career complete game for Kean. It was the righty's second victory of the season over Stevens. He pitched six innings in Kean's 5-3 victory on Feb. 17.

"We played a spirited game today against a solid Kean team," head coach Kristaps Aldins said. "We jumped out to a 3-1 lead thanks to some timely two-out hitting and our pitchers did a great job throughout the course of the day."

On a cold and blustery day throughout the state, starter Andrew Hamel battled the elements to keep Kean off the board through the first two innings. Relievers Bridger Cohen and Drew Hanke continued Hamel's work and kept the game scoreless through four.

Kean finally broke through against Hanke on Brian Cole's fifth-inning RBI double to center.

After collecting their first of the game on Walters' leadoff single in the fifth, Stevens finally broke through against Hapman in the sixth. Garrett Wells walked. Matt Branco attempted to move Wells into scoring position, but was retired on a nice individual play by Cole, who fielded the ball and tagged the Stevens catcher. Senior Michael Mule' singled. Freshman Shaye Bartnick continued his strong play with an opposite-field double down the left field line to tie the game. Nolan Bennett struck out and Kean intentionally walked Walters to pitch to Rood with the bases loaded and two outs. The freshman infielder responded to the challenge, poking a single through the left side of the infield to score Bartnick and Mule, giving the Ducks a 3-1 advantage.

Kean tied the game on a pair of unearned runs in the sixth and went ahead on Jim Fitzgerald's RBI single in the seventh off Ryan Larson (0-2).

Trailing 4-3, the Ducks tried for another late-inning comeback in the ninth. Walters led off the frame with a single, but Hopman struck out Carlos Leon and Eric Zickert with pinch-runner Harrison Kaye on second to end the game.

"Despite Kean grabbing the momentum in the late innings, our guys put themselves in a position to tie or win the game in the ninth," Aldins added. "I am very proud of our guys battling to the very end."

Up Next: The Ducks return to Dobbelaar Field to open Empire 8 Conference play with a three-game series with Houghton College. First pitch for Friday's opening game is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.

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