Box Score 

AUBURNDALE, FLA. – Run-scoring singles by junior Frank Franco (Wayne, N.J./Wayne Hills) and sophomore Rob Somers (West Long Branch, N.J./Shore Regional) in the top of the ninth lifted William Paterson (5-4-1) to a 5-3 victory against No. 20 Cortland (7-4) March 17 at the RussMatt Central Florida Invitational.

Cortland broke the ice with a single run in its first at-bat, but the Pioneers used two hits and an error, including a Vin Fondacaro (Pompton Plains, N.J./Pequannock Twp.) RBI-single, to tie the score in the second. Singles by Somers and senior Andrue Laguerre (Jersey City, N.J./St. Benedict's Prep) were followed by a fielder's choice, an error and another fielder's choice, allowed two runs to cross the plate and give William Paterson a 3-1 edge in the sixth.

A hit by pitch, triple and single helped the Red Dragons to tie the score in the bottom of the eighth, but the Pioneers were able to again seize the advantage during the top of the ninth. The leadoff hitter, Anthony Dorio (Lyndhurst, N.J./Lyndhurst), reached on an error and was sacrificed to second by senior Miguel Lugo (Jersey City, N.J./St. Mary's). After a strikeout and an intentional walk issued to Mike Guadango (Upper Saddle River, N.J./Northern Highlands), Franco plated Dorio with a single through the left side, followed by a Somers base hit on the right side of the infield to score Guadango.

Somers and Laguerre were both 3-for-5, and senior Mike Moran (Pompton Plains, N.J./Pequannock Twp.) was 2-for-5. Sophomore Steve Coral (Totowa, N.J./Passaic Valley) started and tossed 7.1 innings (seven hits, three runs, four walks, four strikeouts). Freshman Jacob Baron (North Brunswick, N.J./North Brunswick) earned the win in relief (1-0), allowing just one hit in 1.2 scoreless innings.

The Pioneers will take on Transylvania Thursday, March 18, at 11:30 a.m. at the RussMatt Central Florida Invitational.