Box Score
WAYNE, N.J. – The William Paterson baseball team recorded its 20th win of the year as the Pioneers (20-9) defeated visiting Drew (4-23), 8-7, April 15 at Pioneer Baseball Park.
Drew struck first, scoring two runs in the third inning. A John Minio single sent home Dante LaPenta, while a Matthew McGrath single drove in James Soldo.
William Paterson trailed until the fifth inning, when three RBI-singles put the Pioneers on the board and in the lead, 3-2. Freshman
Ray Puluse (Little Falls, N.J./Passaic Valley) reached on by an error, and later scored on a
Kevin Ryan (Edison, N.J./Edison) single down the left-field line. Ryan was driven in by a
Dan Limone (Teaneck, N.J./Teaneck) single up the middle, and Limone advanced to second on the throw, and later stole third and scored off a single by junior
Will Courter (Roseland, N.J./West Essex).
The Pioneers extended their lead to 8-2 with five runs in the bottom of the seventh. Five singles and a fielder's choice gave William Paterson a six-run cushion.
Drew answered with one run in the eighth and four in the ninth, but was unable to overcome the Pioneers' lead. A pair of two-RBI singles by Andrew Imperiale and David Kaplow put the tying run at first base, but reliever
Paul Albanese (Palisades Park, N.J./Palisades Park) came into the contest and recorded the final out to preserve the victory.
Freshman pitcher Andrew Baxter took the loss for the Rangers, bringing his record to 0-3. Baxter threw 6.1 innings for the Rangers, allowing six runs on eight hits while striking out four batters and walking only one.
Freshman
Darren Ritchie (Wallington, N.J./Wallington) threw 8.0 innings for the Pioneers to improve to 2-0, allowing seven hits and three runs, with two walks and two strikeouts. Albanese recorded his second save of the season.
Limone and Courter led the Pioneers' offense, accounting for six of the 13 total hits. Limone was 3-for-5 with two runs and one RBI, while Courter was 3-for-5 with one run and two RBI.
William Paterson will play three straight road games, including NJAC contests at Rutgers-Newark (Thursday, April 17, 3:30 p.m.) and Montclair State (Friday, April 18, 3:30 p.m.), before hosting No. 7 TCNJ for a doubleheader Saturday, April 19, at 12:00 p.m.
