Box Score

WAYNE, N.J. – Despite jumping out to an early three-run lead, the William Paterson baseball team (8-5-1, 0-1 NJAC) could not hold on for the win, falling to No. 13 The College of New Jersey (11-4, 1-0 NJAC) 7-6 March 29 in the conference season opener for both teams at the Pioneer Baseball Park.

The Pioneers produced three runs during their first at-bat, thanks to a RBI single by Mike Guadango (Upper Saddle River, N.J./Northern Highlands), a run-scoring groundout by Ted King (West Windsor, N.J./West Windsor South) and a wild pitch.

TCNJ did not score until the top of the sixth, when two doubles and a single produced two runs for the Lions. King crossed the plate in the home half of the inning after senior Rick Pignatello (Wayne, N.J./Wayne Hills) was hit by a pitch, making the score 4-2 in the Pioneers' favor.

The Lions tied the contest with a pair of runs in the seventh, but William Paterson responded in the bottom of the inning as Guadango doubled to left-center and later scored on an error by the TCNJ catcher.

A Jeff Botti single through the left side of the infield plated a run for the Lions to even the score at 5-5, and with the bases loaded in the top of the ninth, Gerard Haran singled to drive in two runs and give TCNJ a 7-5 advantage. For the Pioneers in the bottom of the ninth, Guadango doubled, advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored thanks to a King sacrifice fly, but William Paterson could not muster another run to force extra innings.

Guadango was 3-for-5 with a pair of doubles, two runs scored and a run driven in. Senior Wayne Poppe (Sloatsburg, N.J./Suffern) also had three hits for the Pioneers, while King collected three RBI.

Senior Mike Santana (Paramus, N.J./Paramus) started for William Paterson on the mound, allowing eight hits and four runs (two earned) in 6.1 innings while striking out six hitters. Senior Christian Miranda (Bogota, N.J./Bergen Catholic) suffered the loss (1-1), surrendering three hits and three earned runs in 2.0 innings. Junior Steve VandeVrede (Lincoln Park, N.J./Pequannock) threw the final 0.2 inning, striking out two Lions.

William Paterson will play at Richard Stockton Friday, March 30, at 3:00 p.m.