Box Score 

FLEMINGTON, N.J. – Juniors Frank Franco (Wayne, N.J./Wayne Hills) and Zac Rose (Nutley, N.J./St. Mary Rutherford) each belted a pair of home runs as William Paterson (15-14-1, 5-6 NJAC) slugged its way past Rutgers-Newark (16-16, 6-5 NJAC) for a 16-5 victory in a New Jersey College Athletic Conference (NJAC) contest April 22 at Diamond Nation.

Rose finished 3-for-4 with five RBI and Franco went 3-for-5 with four runs driven in. Junior Brett Carroll (River Edge, N.J./River Dell Regional) pitched 8.0 innings and struck out 12 Scarlet Raiders, not issuing a walk while allowing five runs (two earned) on eight hits to improve to 4-2.

Franco's three-run homer got the Pioneers on the scoreboard during the top of the first inning, and Rose's solo jack made it a 4-0 score to start the second. Another leadoff home run, this one from Franco, started things during the third, and a Matt Norton (Livingston, N.J./Livingston) RBI-single and a Miguel Lugo (Jersey City, N.J./St. Mary's) run-scoring groundout quickly made it a 7-0 advantage.

Each team plated a single run in the fifth, and a Rose grand slam down the left-field line made it a 12-1 score by the middle of the sixth. Freshman Mike Linskey (Stanhope, N.J./Pope John XXIII) had a pinch-hit, run-scoring fielder's choice, and junior Mike Moran (Pompton Plains, N.J./Pequannock Twp.) drove in three runners with his double to right-center, to finish the Pioneers' scoring binge during the top of the ninth.

Moran was 4-for-5 at the plate, contributing three RBI and three runs scored. Junior John Slootmaker (Pequannock, N.J./Lakeland Regional) tossed a scoreless ninth inning for the Pioneers.

William Paterson will host Montclair State Friday, April 23, at 3:30 p.m.