Box Score 

WAYNE, N.J. – Senior John Elia (Emerson, N.J./Pascack Valley) was a perfect 4-for-4 with a home run, four runs scored and three RBI, while junior Miguel Lugo (Jersey City, N.J./St. Mary's) was 3-for-4 with four runs, four RBI and two triples as the William Paterson (13-12, 5-3 NJAC) offense recorded a season high in runs during its 24-8 hammering of New Jersey City (12-16-1, 2-6 NJAC) at Pioneer Baseball Park April 9.

In all, 11 Pioneers collected hits, with five multi-hit performers, as the team pounded the Gothic Knights with runs in every inning but the fifth and eighth to snap a three-game losing streak before a rematch at No. 12 Kean Friday, April 10.

Junior Mike Guadango (Upper Saddle River, N.J./Northern Highlands) finished 3-for-4 with a double and three RBI, and senior Don Hays (Paramus, N.J./Paramus) tied a team high with four RBI, adding two runs to his 3-for-5 day. Sophomore Frank Franco (Wayne, N.J./Wayne Hills) had his second home run in as many games for the Pioneers. 

Freshman starter Steve Coral (Totowa, N.J./Passaic Valley) allowed four runs (three earned) on eight hits over 5.0 innings, improving his record to 4-1. Freshman Rob Doughty (Jersey City, N.J./Hudson Catholic) and teammate Kyle Schlemm (Secaucus, N.J./Secaucus) combined to toss 3.0 innings of scoreless relief with one hit allowed. Freshman Tom Aiellos (Hackensack, N.J./Hackensack) pitched the ninth inning, allowing the final three runs scored by NJCU.

NJCU freshman Rob Gonzalez opened the game with a single, stole second and scored on a Kristopher Brus RBI-single to centerfield.

William Paterson promptly answered the Gothic Knights' inning, as Will Courter (Roseland, N.J./West Essex) crushed a 2-1 offering deep to right field for his first home run this season.

After NJCU scored again to push ahead 2-1, the Pioneers took the lead for good as the offense rallied for five runs on four hits in the second inning. Marc Palestina (Paramus, N.J./Paramus) (1-for-4, two runs) and Lugo had RBI-triples, while Hays recorded a run-scoring double to highlight the inning.

NJCU would make a pitching change in the third inning, but the William Paterson bats continued to sizzle, jumping in front 7-2 when Elia displayed his power by smashing his seventh home run of the year with a laser shot to straightaway center.

Coral shut down the Gothic Knights in order during the top half of the fourth. The Pioneers, however, continued to apply pressure as well as the hard hits as they responded with nine-run inning that included a barrage of singles.

Lugo started things off with a base hit and stolen base, Courter drew a walk and Guadango followed with an infield single of his own before Mike Moran (Pompton Plains, N.J./Pequannock Twp.) drove in two with a single up the middle. Hays later picked up his second two-run hit with a single, and Lugo plated Anthony Dorio (Lyndhurst, N.J./Lyndhurst), Zak Rose (Nutley, N.J/St. Mary's Rutherford), and Hays with his second hit of the inning, a three-run triple to left-center.

Trailing 16-2, senior Mike Hoyer had a RBI-single for the Gothic Knights, and they added another unearned run as they tried to chip into the massive William Paterson lead.

In the sixth inning, the Pioneers added seven runs on five hits to forge ahead 22-4. Dorio doubled to left-center, Lugo walked and Courter was hit by a pitch before Guadango drove all runners home with his three-run double to left-center.

Gonzalez led the Gothic Knight offense, finishing 3-for-5 while scoring four of the team's eight runs.

Junior right-hander Stephen Montalbano dropped his record to 2-4, allowing six runs on five hits in 2.0 innings pitched. Five NJCU relievers followed him, giving up 18 earned runs on 16 hits.

William Paterson will travel to face No.12 Kean Friday, April 10, at 1:00 p.m.