Box Score (Game #1)
Box Score (Game #2)

MONTCLAIR, N.J. – Wild pitches in the bottom of the ninth gave Montclair State a doubleheader sweep against local rival William Paterson (15-13-2, 3-9-1 NJAC), 6-0 and 9-8, in NJAC baseball action at Yogi Berra Stadium on April 21.


In the nightcap, a four-run rally in the seventh and a run in the eighth staked WPU to an 8-6 lead heading into the bottom of the ninth, but things would unravel for the Pioneers. Jeff Miller was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning, and after an out, Rob Bowness drew a walk against reliever Christian Miranda (Bogota, N.J./Bergen Catholic). Steve VandeVerede (Lincoln Park, N.J./Pequannock) came on and walked Lou Politan on four pitches to put the winning run on base. VandeVrede would then issue another walk to Rob Clark to force home a run and make the score 8-7. Senior righthander Tim Cowan (Elizabeth, N.J./Roselle Catholic) was summoned from the bullpen, but his first pitch skipped in the dirt, allowing Bowness to trot home with the tying run. On the very next pitch with MSU attempting a squeeze, Cowan's pitch hit the dirt again and bounced to the back stop, giving pinch runner Thomas Meyer an easy path to the plate with the winning run.


William Paterson battled back from two two-run, and one three-run, deficits to take its first lead of the doubleheader in the seventh inning. Trailing 6-3, the Pioneers loaded the bases with one out before Mike Guadango (Upper Saddle River, N.J./Northern Highlands) bounced into a fielder's choice that scored one run and a second came around to score as a throwing error on the play plated Rick Pignatello (Wayne, N.J./Wayne Hills). After Guadango stole third, Ted King (West Windsor, N.J./West Windsor South) drew a walk to put runners at the corners. Vince Joyce (Franklin, N.J./Wallkill Valley) then lined a 0-2 pitch into left center for a double, scoring both runners as William Paterson took a 7-6 lead. Up to that point, WPU was just 3-of-27 with runners in scoring position in the doubleheader. The next inning, Pignatello added an RBI double to give William Paterson a two-run lead.


Pignatello finished 3-for-5, while Joyce was 2-for-5. VandeVrede took the loss to fall to 1-2.

In the opener, Mike Irwin (North Haledon, N.J./Manchester Regional) suffered the loss to fall to 2-1. Iwrin went seven innings, giving up six runs (five earned) and five hits with six strikeouts and four walks. William Paterson had its chances, but it could not come through with a key hit as it stranded 11 runners and went 0-for-12 with runners in scoring position in the contest. The Pioneers loaded the bases in the ninth inning with one out, but the Red Hawks escaped the jam by striking out one batter and getting a flyout to end the game.

Guadango (3-for-4) had three of William Paterson's five hits.

William Paterson is back on the diamond on Monday, April 23, with an NJAC makeup contest at the Pioneer Baseball Park versus Rowan (3:30 p.m.).