Box Score 

WAYNE, N.J. – Sophomore Mike Moran (Pompton Plains, N.J./Pequannock Twp.) extended the game with his two-out single to right field in the bottom of the ninth inning, but pesky SUNY Oneonta (14-3) rallied to beat the William Paterson baseball team (7-7) in 10 innings, 7-6, at Pioneer Baseball Park March 25.

Moran led the team offensively with his 3-for-5 day (two RBI) for the Pioneers, who held a 5-3 lead after five innings but ultimately lost their first home game this season in a back-and-forth struggle against the Red Dragons.

Junior right-hander Tyler Renner (Matawan, N.J./Matawan Regional) started for the Pioneers and tossed 6.0 solid innings, allowing three runs (one earned) and three hits while striking out six batters in earning a no-decision.

Senior outfielder John Elia (Emerson, N.J./Pascack Valley) finished 2-for-2 with three runs scored, three walks and three RBI, including a game-tying homer to deep left-center. Senior Will Courter (Roseland, N.J./West Essex) was 2-for-3 with three runs scored and three walks.

William Paterson carried all the momentum as Moran's clutch hit moved the game into extra innings, but the Red Dragons didn't wait long to attack the Pioneers' bullpen. In the 10th, senior Brian Holmes started the game-deciding inning with a single to left. He would advance to second on a bunt, and after a Red Dragon walk, Holmes came home to score the game-winning run as junior Carmine Caputo slapped a grounder deep in the hole at shortstop that resulted in an errant throw to first base.

Caputo led the Red Dragons by going 3-for-4 with two runs, two RBI and a walk, while Ryan Myers finished 1-for-4 with two RBI.

Trailing 3-1, senior Derek Koppinger (Columbia, N.J./North Warren Regional) led off the WP third inning with a single, stole second and then scored when Elia launched his team-leading fifth home run of the season to deep left-center field to tie the game at 3-3.

William Paterson moved ahead 5-3 when Elia and Rob Somers (West Long Branch, N.J./Shore Regional) picked up RBI-singles in the fifth inning. That lead didn't last, however, as SUNY Oneonta used back-to-back singles in the top of the seventh to put the pressure back on the Pioneers. A sacrifice fly shaved the Red Dragons' deficit to 5-4, and two of the Pioneers' six errors of the day resulted in another run that tied the game at 5-5.

Sophomore Dan Filak picked up the victory and improved his record to 3-0, striking out five in two strong innings of relief for the Red Dragons. Filak replaced freshman left-hander Christopher Smith, who tossed 3.1 innings and collected five of the teams' 11 strikeouts.

Three freshman pitchers relieved Renner - Dan Alcala (Totowa, N.J./Passaic Valley) allowed two runs (one earned) on three hits in 1.0 inning of work, J.J. Moran (River Vale, N.J./Pascack Valley) collected three strikeouts in his 2.0 innings, allowing an unearned run, and John Savoie (Hawthorne, N.J./Hawthorne) took the loss for the Pioneers (0-2), allowing one run on one hit in 1.0 inning of relief. 

William Paterson will start conference play on Friday, March 27, at New Jersey City at 3:30 p.m. before hosting Ramapo for a doubleheader Saturday, March 28, at 12:00 p.m.