Box Score 

WAYNE, N.J. – William Paterson (16-17-1) suffered a 19-7 defeat against the visiting Keystone Giants (21-7) April 28 at the Pioneer Baseball Park. Senior Mike Guadango (Upper Saddle River, N.J./Northern Highlands) went 3-for-4 with three runs scored, a RBI and a stolen base in the losing effort.

William Paterson got on the scoreboard first after Guadango reached base on a walk and junior Frank Franco (Wayne, N.J./Wayne Hills) was hit by a pitch. Sophomore third baseman Rob Somers (West Long Branch, N.J./Shore Regional) stepped to the plate and hit a crisp ground ball to second base, causing the second baseman to rush his throw and allow Guadango to come in to score. Keystone responded in the bottom half of the first, knocking out five hits and scoring five runs. Singles by Ryan Smyth, Donald Reese, Esteban Meletiche and Gabe Torres along with a double by Yazy Arbello assisted the Giants in taking the 5-1 lead over the Pioneers.

The Pioneers struck again in the bottom of the third inning when William Paterson rallied to score three runs, all with two outs. Back-to-back singles by Guadango and Franco, as well as a walk by Somers, loaded the bases for the Pioneers. A passed ball allowed Guadango to score, followed by a single up the middle by Andrue Laguerre (Jersey City, N.J./St. Benedict's Prep) that plated Franco and Somers, cutting the Giants' lead down to 5-4. Keystone answered back in the top half of the fourth starting with singles by Eddie Frias, Ray Jackson and Meletiche. A base-clearing double by Eric Groff proved to be the difference in the inning, giving the Giants an 8-4 edge.

Groff caused problems for the Pioneer pitching staff once again in the top of the sixth inning, leading off with a home run to left field. After loading the bases, the Giants only managed to scrape across one extra run on a sacrifice fly by Frias, making it a 12-4 game.

A long home run to right field by Arbello led off the top half of the fifth inning for Keystone. Putting together a small two-out rally, the Giants strung together three singles and got some help from the Pioneer defense, who committed two errors, allowing Keystone to score two more runs.

Keystone tacked on another two runs in the top of the seventh on a ground ball by Smyth that scored Edwin Padua and a passed ball that allowed Groff, who previously reached on a double to right-center field, to score, making it 15-4. The Keystone bats did not let up in the top of the eighth inning, blasting four hits and scoring four runs for a 19-6 edge. William Paterson tacked on a run in the bottom of the frame, starting with a single by Pete Kraljic (Rochelle Park, N.J./Ridgefield Park), followed up by a single through the left side by classmate Jonattan Fernandez (Paterson, N.J./Sports Business Academy). A ground ball by senior Miguel Lugo (Jersey City, N.J./St. Mary's) plated Kraljic, making it a 19-7 score.

William Paterson starting pitcher Greg Baker (Clark, N.J./Arthur L. Johnson Regional) tossed 2.0 innings and surrendered five hits and five runs (three earned), striking out two batters (1-1). The Pioneers tested their bullpen, throwing five relievers. The senior starter for the Giants, Sean Murphy (4-2), scattered six hits in 6.0 innings and allowed four runs (three earned).

William Paterson will celebrate Senior Day when the Pioneers host Rutgers-Newark Thursday, April 29, at 3:30 p.m.