Box Score 

JERSEY CITY, N.J. -- The William Paterson baseball team (13-8-1, 3-2 NJAC) saw its ninth-inning rally fall short in a 7-6 loss at New Jersey City (10-12, 1-4 NJAC) April 9. Trailing 7-2 with two outs in the top of the ninth, the Pioneers rallied to cross the plate four times to make it a one-run game, but a groundout with the bases loaded ended WP's comeback hopes.

William Paterson struck first with a Frank Franco (Wayne, N.J./Wayne Hills) first-inning sacrifice fly, but the Gothic Knights answered with two runs during the home half of the inning. New Jersey City added a two-run single in the second, and tacked on two more scores during the fourth inning thanks to a RBI-single and a bases-loaded walk.

The Pioneers used a single and three NJCU errors to get one run back in the top of the sixth, making it a 6-2 contest, but New Jersey City's sacrifice fly extended the Knights' lead to 7-2 after eight innings.

Senior Miguel Lugo (Jersey City, N.J./St. Mary's) led off the top of the ninth with a single, followed by back-to-back flyouts. Base hits by freshman Mike Linskey (Stanhope, N.J./Pope John XXIII) and senior James Gregory (Ramsey, N.J./Ramsey) loaded the bases for sophomore Jack Montanile (Weehawken, N.J./Hudson Catholic), who delivered two runs with his single to center field. An Andrue Laguerre (Jersey City, N.J./St. Benedict's Prep) base knock again loaded the bases, and junior Zac Rose (Nutley, N.J./St. Mary Rutherford) drove in two runs with a hit to left field, making it a 7-6 score. Sophomore Anthony Dorio (Lyndhurst, N.J./Lyndhurst) drew a walk to once again load the bases, but Lugo's grounder was picked up by the third baseman, who stepped on third to end the rally and the game.

Gregory was 3-for-4 with a run scored, while Linskey went 2-for-3 and crossed the plate twice. Laguerre and Lugo each contributed a pair of hits.

Junior Ryan Steidl (Randolph, N.J./Morris Knolls) took the loss (2-1) after giving up seven hits and six runs in 3.2 innings. Sophomore Rob Doughty (Jersey City, N.J./Hudson Catholic) pitched the final 4.1 innings and allowed one unearned run on three hits.

Three different Gothic Knights each contributed two hits in the winning effort. Jeff Karczewski earned the victory, surrendering two runs (one earned) and seven hits in 8.0 innings.

William Paterson will play a doubleheader at Rowan Saturday, April 10, at 11:30 a.m.