Box Score 

WAYNE, N.J. – William Paterson (2-1-1) banged out 16 hits en route to a 12-3 victory against Centenary (2-4) March 10 at Pioneer Baseball Park.

The Pioneer bats got off to an early start, scoring two runs in the bottom of the first inning. The first run was driven in by senior Andrue Laguerre (Jersey City, N.J./St. Benedict's Prep), who scored classmate Miguel Lugo (Jersey City, N.J./St. Mary's) with a single to center field. Designated hitter Frank Franco (Wayne, N.J./Wayne Hills) also contributed a run in the first, lacing a RBI-single through the left side to give the Pioneers a two-run advantage. A Laguerre double in the second inning scored Lugo and sophomore Anthony Dorio (Lyndhurst, N.J./Lyndhurst), giving the Pioneers a four-run advantage going into the third inning.

Centenary responded with a Michael Fasano third-inning single that plated classmate Mark DeMaio to make the score 4-1 in favor of William Paterson.

The Pioneers struck again in the bottom of the third inning, tacking on another three runs. Junior Zac Rose (Nutley, N.J./St. Mary Rutherford) scored Franco on a sacrifice fly to right field, and a Dorio single and an error by the Cyclones' center fielder allowed freshman Mike Linskey (Stanhope, N.J./Pope John XXIII) and sophomore Rob Somers (West Long Branch, N.J./Shore Regional) to cross the plate, giving William Paterson a 7-1 lead.

A pinch-hit single by Ryan VanderMay (West Caldwell, N.J./Seton Hall Prep) in the bottom of the seventh scored Laguerre, extending William Paterson's lead. Freshman Joe Fiorino (Glen Cove, N.Y./Glen Cove) also contributed a pinch-hit single to score Marc Palestina (Paramus, N.J./Paramus) and give the Pioneers a 9-1 advantage.

The bottom of the eighth inning saw three more Pioneer runs as Somers hit a two-run single and Fiorino plated Palestina with a base hit, enhancing William Paterson's lead to 12-1.

The Cyclones pushed across two runners in the top of the ninth inning when pinch runner Randy Castillo scored on a Lou Penna fielder's choice. An error by Lugo allowed sophomore Shane Somlimani to score Centenary's third and final run of the game.

Lugo finished 3-for-5 with a double and three runs scored, while Laguerre was 2-for-3, hit a double, drove in three runs and scored twice. Somers, Linskey and Dorio each contributed a pair of hits for the Pioneers.

Junior Ryan Steidl (Randolph, N.J./Morris Knolls) tossed 6.0 innings, giving up one earned run on three hits and striking out five for the win (1-0). Sophomore Rob Doughty (Jersey City, N.J./Hudson Catholic) pitched 2.0 scoreless innings in relief, allowing only one Cyclone hit. Freshman James Young (Bayonne, N.J./Bayonne) threw the ninth inning (one hit, two runs, one earned).

Senior Andrew Granozio was 2-for-4 to lead Centenary at the plate. Sophomore pitcher Johnny Veninata gave up seven runs on 10 hits in 5.0 innings of work (0-1). Junior Dan Chapman entered the game in relief in the sixth inning and retired the Pioneers in order. Sophomore Mark Tanis surrendered two runs on two hits in his 1.0 inning of work. Penna tossed the final inning and gave up three runs on four hits.

The Pioneers will begin action at the RussMatt Central Florida Invitational Friday, March 12, against St. Joseph's (Maine) at 9:00 a.m.