Box Score 

WAYNE, N.J. – Junior Miguel Lugo (Jersey City, N.J./Hudson Catholic) and senior Will Courter (Roseland, N.J./West Essex) had two hits apiece as the William Paterson baseball team (17-12, 9-3 NJAC) defeated Rutgers-Newark (16-10, 5-5 NJAC) 9-7 April 16 to remain in sole possession of first place in the New Jersey Athletic Conference standings.

Senior Don Hays (Paramus, N.J./Paramus) drove in two runs for the Pioneers, who held on for the win despite a late-inning rally by the Scarlet Raiders.

William Paterson's J.J. Moran (River Vale, N.J./Pascack Valley) pitched the ninth inning to earn his fourth save, but it wasn't easy. The freshman reliever entered the game with a three-run cushion before Rutgers-Newark sparked its final rally. Gerard Russomanno started the inning with a single and advanced to second on a passed ball. A double-play groundout moved Russomanno to third base and he scored on sophomore Matt Connors' RBI-single up the middle. Moran, however, made the final putout and handed the Pioneers their 17th victory of the year.

Rutgers-Newark struck first with a two-out rally off WP freshman starter Steve Coral (Totowa, N.J./Passaic Valley) to go ahead 1-0 in the first inning. Patrick Reitemeyer, moved to second on a single and scored on Joe Furnaguera's line-drive single up the middle.

William Paterson responded with three runs on two hits, a walk and an error to move in front 3-1 after two innings. John Elia (Emerson, N.J./Pascack Valley) started things for the Pioneers with a walk and advanced to second when Zak Rose's (Nutley, N.J. /St. Mary's Rutherford) grounder to shortstop resulted in an error. Hays then followed with a two-run double to left-center, and Anthony Dorio (Lyndhurst, N.J./Lyndhurst) drove in the third run with his RBI-single.

Trailing by two runs, the Scarlet Raiders appeared ready for a big inning in the top of the fourth, but Mike Moran (Pompton Plains, N.J./Pequannock Twp.) made a diving catch in foul territory and Coral pitched out of a bases-loaded jam to preserve the Pioneers' 3-1 advantage.

William Paterson escaped trouble again in the fifth after Coral allowed back-to-back walks to Reitemeyer and Yeswita, but momentum quickly swung back in the Pioneers' favor when Elia chased down a deep fly ball that started an 8-6-5 double play to get a tagging Reitemeyer out at third

In the fifth, the Pioneers opened up a 6-1 advantage thanks to an error by the Rutgers-Newark right-fielder, whose drop of Elia's fly ball allowed Mike Guadango (Upper Saddle River, N.J./Northern Highlands) and Moran to come home. Rose then finished the scoring with a sacrifice fly that plated Elia.

Rutgers-Newark tacked on an unearned run to make it 6-2 in the top half of the sixth inning. Cristian Diaz led off with a walk, advanced to third on a two-base error at second and later scored on Brian Gill's sacrifice fly.

Another error in the seventh inning hurt Rutgers-Newark and the Pioneers took full advantage, expanding the lead to 9-2. Hays reached base on an error at third and scored on Lugo's RBI-triple. Courter drove in Lugo with an RBI-double, and Guadango followed with his run-scoring single.

The Pioneers, who avoided a few big innings earlier in the game, finally pitched themselves into trouble during the eighth as they allowed four runs.

Right-hander Dan Alcala (Totowa, N.J./Passaic Valley) loaded the bases before junior and NJAC wins-leader Scott Zirul (Cedar Grove, N.J./Cedar Grove) entered the game in relief. Gill and Reitemeyer welcomed the Pioneers' ace with consecutive RBI-singles and the bases remained loaded for Yeswita, who walked to bring home the third Scarlet Raider run. Gill then scored from third after a wild pitch to make it 9-6, but Zirul responded and recorded two strikeouts to end the threat.

Coral gave up just two runs, with one earned, on eight hits in 6.0 strong innings to hand Rutgers-Newark the loss and improve his record to 5-1. Alcala relieved him and allowed three runs (all earned) on two hits in 1.1 innings before making way for Zirul and Moran.

Sophomore starter Ryan Williams was tagged with his first loss (5-1), surrendering six runs (four earned) on five hits, five walks and a strikeout.

Russomanno (3-for-4, two runs scored) and Gill (three hits, two RBI) led the Rutgers-Newark offense.

William Paterson will host Montclair State on Friday, April 17, at 3:30 p.m. Students are invited to show their Pioneer Pride by attending the home game and will be eligible to receive special giveaways with a valid I.D.