Box Score
LITTLE FALLS, N.J. – William Paterson (16-19-1, 6-10 NJAC) jumped out to an early 5-0 lead but could not hold off Montclair State (19-14, 9-7 NJAC) in a 13-6 New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) baseball contest April 30 at Yogi Berra Stadium.
The Pioneers scored five times in the top of first inning as the first five hitters all collected hits.
Anthony Dorio (Lyndhurst, N.J./Lyndhurst) singled to center to open the game and
Miguel Lugo (Jersey City, N.J./St. Mary's) followed with a base hit through the left side, putting runners at first and second. Senior
Mike Guadango (Upper Saddle River, N.J./Northern Highlands) cleared them all as he hit the first pitch over the left-field wall for his eighth home of the year and a 3-0 Pioneer lead.
Frank Franco (Wayne, N.J./Wayne Hills) and
Jack Montanile (Weehawken, N.J./Hudson Catholic) followed with base hits and the Pioneers caught a break as
Andrue Laugerre's (Jersey City, N.J./St. Benedict's Prep) fielder's choice was thrown away, allowing two more to score as William Paterson held a 5-0 lead before MSU came to bat.
Montclair would cut into that lead immediately, scoring twice in its half of the first. Kevin Bond plated the first run with a fielder's choice and Mike Boggi doubled down the left-field line to score another as the Red Hawks made the score 5-2. MSU would then tie the game in the fourth as Jason Chesterman had a RBI-single. Evangelist doubled with the bases loaded, scoring two more as Montclair knotted the game at 5-5.
William Paterson would go back out on top in the top of the fifth on a Laguerre run-scoring single, but Montclair countered with two in its half to take the lead for good. Boggi walked and scored as Mickey McGraw doubled to left. Kevin Miller added a RBI-single as MSU moved in front, 7-6. Bond's two-run homer (sixth of the season) in the sixth extended the lead to 9-6, and MSU scored three times in the seventh without the benefit of a hit as the Pioneers committed three errors in the inning. Mike Ercolano's run-scoring base hit in the eighth capped the scoring for the Red Hawks.
Sean Hille (7-2) settled down after the top of the first, allowing a run and scattering seven hits during the next 7.0 innings.
Steve Coral (Totowa, N.J./Passaic Valley) took the loss, falling to 1-3. Will Traverso pitched a scoreless ninth for the Red Hawks.
Scott Evangelist, Bond, Boggi, McGraw and Miller had two hits apiece for Montclair. Dorio, Lugo, Franco, Montanile and Laguerre each had two for William Paterson.
The Pioneers will finish the regular season with a doubleheader at Kean Saturday, May 1, at 11:30 a.m.
