UNION, N.J. (February 17, 2018)  – Junior Charlie Ruegger scattered five hits over five effective innings in his first regular season start in nearly two years, senior Alex Detweiler drove in three, but Kean University used a four-run, eighth-inning rally to upend the Stevens Institute of Technology baseball team 8-5 Saturday afternoon in a non-conference game at Jim Hynes Stadium.

Senior Tommy Barroner worked a leadoff walk of Justin Hernandez (1-0) and came around to score on RBI groundout to give Stevens a 5-4 lead. Junior Ryan Larsen (0-1) came on to pitch the eighth. Andrew Ferrara singled to begin the game-deciding rally. After Matt Krupa struck out, Larsen walked Steve Santigate and Tim Huxen to load the bases. Larsen balked in pinch-runner Devin Rodriguez to tie the score. After striking out Chris Perdoni, a double steal gave Kean its first lead of the day. Consecutive singles plated two additional runs to give Kean an 8-5 lead.

Sophomore Patrick Rood and junior Carlos Leon each collected a pair of hits for the Ducks, who fell to 0-1. Frank LoGiudice had four hits and a pair of RBI for Kean, who moved to 1-0. The teams will play one another a second time on March 21, also in Union.

"A tough result today," reflected head coach Kristaps Aldins. "We were in a position to win the game in the late innings, but couldn't quite do all of the things it took to walk away with the win. On the positive side, our young squad showed a lot of energy and this year's group has an unlimited amount of potential."

After establishing himself as the team's closer as a sophomore, Ruegger drew the opening-day star. The Lincoln Park, New Jersey native's last regular season start came against Utica College on March 30, 2016. Ruegger earned eight saves in 2017, but started against Ithaca College in the Empire 8 Conference Tournament, allowing just three hits in five innings of work.

Freshman Ambrose Consol recorded both the first base hit of the 2017 season, and his first collegiate hit, with a first-inning single off Justin Diefenbach. Freshman Nathan Zuckerman reaching on a throwing error by Mike Perone Jr. and Detweiler cleared the bases with the second triple of his career. Sophomore Patrick Rood walked and stole second to put a pair of runners in scoring position, but Joseph Hanley flied out to right to end the threat.

Staked with a lead, Ruegger a single over the first two innings, collecting two strikeouts, before running into trouble in the third. Perrone walked and moved to second on a passed ball. LoGiudice singled to drive in Kean's first run and then came around to score two batters later on Nick Polizzano's infield single.

The Ducks tacked on single runs in the fourth and fifth, only to watch Kean respond with runs in the sixth and seventh.

Stevens put a pair of runners on in the ninth, but Jean Sapini struck out Consol to end the game for his first career save.

Up Next: The Ducks begin a stretch of three straight games at Dobbelaar Field Sunday, welcoming Old Westbury to Hoboken for a 1 p.m. first pitch. "We are excited about learning from today and getting back out on the field tomorrow against SUNY-Old Westbury," Aldins commented.

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