By Joseph Caruso
Sports editor
The College’s baseball season came to a close after dropping both games of their senior day double-header against No.11 ranked Kean, finishing off 2026 with a 16-23 record, their worst record in a non-shortened season in over 20 years.
After defeating William Paterson in their previous game, the Lions aimed to carry some momentum into their senior day showdown with nationally ranked Kean. Seniors Mike Doran, Jack O'Donnell, Brian Lovaglio, Tyler Provost and John DiCostanzo were all celebrated prior to the first pitch of the first game, getting a worthy sendoff for their contributions to the Lions.
Sophomore Jack Reardon got the start in game one, but took a shellacking surrendering 12 hits and nine runs to the Cougars, six of which were scored in the first two innings as Kean flexed their muscles to jump ahead 6-0.
Reardon bounced back over the next two innings, keeping Kean off the board until the top of the fifth, where they added on three more to take a commanding nine-run lead. The Lions got on the board in the bottom half of the inning, as O’Donnell broke the ice with his first of three RBIs in the game.
Kean would add three more runs, but O’Donnell smashed a two-run homer in the bottom of the seventh, marking the fifth of his career. Despite the impressive showing from the senior, the College dropped the first game 12-3.
In the latter half of the double-header, The Lions aimed to end their season on a higher note, and got off to the perfect start.
Sophomore Chris Salmon got the Lions started with a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the second, and Provost followed up with a single to score O’Donnell in the bottom of the third putting the College ahead 2-0.
Kean didn’t waste any time however, responding immediately in the top of the following inning, tripling in a run to cut the Lions lead in half.
The score would hold at 2-1 for the next handful of innings, on the back of an impressive outing from freshman Austin Hanni, tossing five innings of one-run ball, giving the College something to look forward to in the future.
Both teams exchanged scoreless innings until the top of the ninth, with the College just three outs from ending their senior day with a victory.
Freshman pitcher Andrew Wilkinson had a good day in relief, but opened up the ninth inning allowing two Cougars to reach base, as they singled and walked to put the tying run in scoring position.
Dicostanzo was then put in to close it out, with two on and one out. However, the senior walked the following two batters, the latter of which scored a run to tie the game. With the bases loaded and one out, Kean cashed in on a fielder's choice to take a 3-2 lead.
The College threatened in the bottom of the ninth, with two hits to put the winning run in scoring position for O’Donnell. However, O’Donnell came up empty swinging and missing for strike three, as the College ended their season in devastating fashion losing 3-2 and getting swept on their senior day.
In a fitting end to the year, the Lions will be happy to put 2026 behind them. It was a transition period for the College, with three new coaches on the staff, including first-year head coach Chris Collazo. The College will look to get back on track in the 2027 season.
