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Box Score 2 NEWARK, N.J. – The Felician University baseball team clinched the 2016 Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference regular-season championship by winning both ends of its CACC doubleheader from host Bloomfield College, 16-8 and 6-3, on Monday afternoon at West Side Park.
Felician completed the regular season with an overall record of 29-18. The Golden Falcons were 16-4 in conference play, finishing first by two games over Chestnut Hill College and 2015 champion Wilmington (Del.) University. It is the third regular-season crown in Felician history; the Golden Falcons also finished first in 2002 and 2012.
"I'm really proud of this group for what they've accomplished and the level of maturity and consistency they've shown," said 13th-year Felician head coach Chris Langan. "From being 5-13 at one point to where we stand now is just remarkable, and shows how tough and special this group is. We have a different hero every game."
In sweeping the Bears on Monday, Felician produced a combined 36 base hits, including 19 for extra bases. The Golden Falcons blasted three home runs in each contest. Sophomore first baseman Jason Polgano (Bronx, N.Y.) homered in each game and finished 7 for 10 with three doubles, six runs scored and four runs batted in. Junior catcher Matt Kleinstein (Marlboro, N.J.) went 6 for 7, including his first career home run.
Needing only one win to clinch first place, the Golden Falcons left nothing to chance. They scored four runs on five hits in the first inning of Game 1, capped by Polgano's two-run homer, then received a three-run double by Ronnie Grant (Burlington, N.J.) to highlight a five-run third. By the end of five innings, Felician led, 13-0.
Polgano (3 R, 3 RBI) and Andrew LaMura (Brick, N.J.) (two doubles) were each 4 for 6, and Kleinstein finished 4 for 5 with a double, home run, three runs, and four RBI. Brennan Price (Middlesex, N.J.) was 3 for 5 and Matt Diesel (Massapequa Park, N.Y.) also homered for the Golden Falcons, who out-hit the Bears, 23-10. Junior pitcher Drue Brooks (Spring Hill, Fla.) (3-2) worked through 5 1/3 innings, yielding five runs on six hits, to earn the victory.
Harry Montero (Millville, N.J.) was 2 for 5 with two doubles and three RBI for Bloomfield (11-26, 8-12).
Game 2 began as a pitchers' duel between Felician junior Price and Bloomfield junior Carlos Tejada (New York, N.Y.). Polgano reached Tejada for a solo homer in the second inning, and the Golden Falcons maintained that 1-0 lead into the seventh.
Polgano doubled and eventually scored on a wild pitch in the top of the seventh, but the Bears broke through against Price when Montero did the same in the home half. Lefty reliever Joe Schultheis (Plainview, N.Y.) obtained the final two outs of the frame without further damage.
The teams again traded runs in the eighth. The Golden Falcons took a 3-1 lead on LaMura's solo homer with two outs. In the bottom, Bloomfield put runners on first and third with no one out before Harold Hester's (Lakehurst, N.J.) sacrifice fly brought the hosts back within a run. Felician called on closer Danny Naif (Jackson, N.J.) and Bloomfield's Luke Loughery, who advanced to second on the flyout, stole third. But Naif recorded a strikeout and groundout to preserve the Golden Falcon lead.
Felician broke the game open in the ninth on a two-run home run by J.R. Meneses (Lake Worth, Fla.) and an RBI single from Bruce Strickland (Hazlet, N.J.). Naif gave up an RBI single to Luis Hidalgo (Ridgefield, N.J.) in the ninth, but retired the side for his eighth save, tying the Felician record.
Price (2-2) allowed two hits over 6 1/3 innings, matching his career high of eight strikeouts without allowing a walk. Polgano went 3 for 4 and scored three runs and Kleinstein was 2 for 2 with a double off the bench.
Felician received a bye into the double-elimination round of the CACC Tournament. The Golden Falcons play their opening round game on Thursday, May 12 at 9 a.m. at Wilson Field in New Castle, Del., against an opponent to be determined.
"We can enjoy this accomplishment for a few days before getting back to work toward our goal of trying to win a conference title," Langan said. "This regular season finish has a lot to do with my staff of tireless workers and great teachers, and I give many thanks to coaches Matt Marotta, Mike Mobbs and Frank Collazo."
