Box Score 

WAYNE, N.J. – Sophomore Jack Montanile (Weehawken, N.J./Hudson Catholic) went 4-for-4 with an RBI and a stolen base while also assisting in two defensive plays from left field to help lift the William Paterson baseball team (14-12-1, 4-4 NJAC) to a 10-7 win against New Jersey City University (10-17, 1-9 NJAC) April 16. A late rally by the Gothic Knights in the top of the ninth inning fell short as the Pioneers slugged 18 hits against visiting NJCU.

The Pioneers jumped out to an early lead, scoring two runs in the bottom of the first inning. A leadoff double to left-center field by sophomore Anthony Dorio (Lyndhurst, N.J./Lyndhurst) ignited the bats for the Pioneers. A single by senior Miguel Lugo (Jersey City, N.J./St. Mary's) plated Dorio, giving the Pioneers an early lead. First baseman Rob Somers (West Long Branch, N.J./Shore Regional) doubled down the right-field line, allowing Lugo to score and give the Pioneers a 2-0 edge.

William Paterson struck again in the bottom of the second with a leadoff single by Montanile, who advanced to second on a stolen base. A single up the middle by Andrue Laguerre (Jersey City, N.J./St. Benedict's Prep) scored Montanile, and a stolen base and a ground ball allowed Laguerre to advance to third base and eventually score on a single by Lugo.

The bats stayed hot for the Pioneers in the bottom of the fourth inning. A bunt single by Lugo moved Dorio to second base, who had reached after being hit by a pitch to start the inning. A double down the left-field line by Somers plated each of the Pioneer base runners, and a single down the left-field line by catcher Zac Rose (Nutley, N.J./St. Mary Rutherford) allowed Somers to score, giving William Paterson the 7-0 advantage.

The Gothic Knights struck back in the top of the sixth inning with three runs of their own. A leadoff walk and back-to-back singles by Ken Witte and Michael Fiorentino loaded the bases for New Jersey City, and a walk by Francisco Ramirez scored the first run of the day for the Gothic Knights. A sacrifice fly by Tom Burke and a single by Jordan Tetrick plated two more runs, making the score 7-3.

Back-to-back singles to left field in the bottom of the sixth inning by Matt Norton (Livingston, N.J./Livingston) and Montanile allowed Rose to score after he had been hit by a pitch, giving the Pioneers an 8-3 edge.

William Paterson struck again in the bottom of the seventh inning when Rose singled through the left side, pushing Lugo across the plate and advancing Somers to second base and Mike Guadango (Upper Saddle River, N.J./Northern Highlands) to third. Guadango eventually scored on a slow-rolling ground ball by Norton, making it a 10-3 advantage.

The Gothic Knights responded in the top of the eighth inning when Burke doubled to left-center field, scoring Fiorentino and Witte. A Tetrick single through the left side scored Ramirez for a 10-6 score. The Gothic Knights kept the rally going in the top of the ninth inning, starting with a walk by Brian Bustillo. He later scored on a sacrifice fly by Fiorentino, but with the tying run at the plate the Pioneers recorded the final two outs via flyout.

Lugo was 4-for-4, drove in two runs and scored three times. Rose went 3-for-4 with two RBI, and Somers was 2-for-4 and drove in three Pioneer runs.

Freshman Jacob Baron (North Brunswick, N.J./North Brunswick) made his first start of the season (4-0), tossing 7.0 innings and yielding six runs on eight hits. Sophomore Dan Alcala (Totowa, N.J./Passaic Valley) threw 1.0 inning in relief and gave up two hits and one walk. Junior John Slootmaker (Pequannock, N.J./Lakeland Regional) tossed the final 1.0 inning in relief, allowing two hits and facing five batters.

Four different Gothic Knights each had a pair of hits. Sophomore Nelson Maldonado (1-5) tossed 5.0 innings, surrendering 13 hits and seven runs (six earned) as the Gothic Knights' starter. Freshman Michael Kelly pitched 1.1 relief innings, relenting one walk, two hits and two runs. Freshman Josue Reyes faced only two batters in relief and surrendered one earned run on two hits while walking two Pioneer batters. Junior Westley Lopez tossed the last 1.0 inning in relief, surrendering one walk and one hit.

The Pioneers will host The College of New Jersey Saturday, April 17, for a doubleheader at 11:30 a.m.