Box Score

WAYNE, N.J. – William Paterson (9-6-1) used eight runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to pull away from RPI (9-6) for an 11-4 baseball victory March 29 at Jeff Albies Field.

The Engineers crossed the plate twice during their first at-bat, using a Jonny Rio RBI-single and an Art Levenson run-scoring base hit down the right-field line. The Pioneers cut that lead in half during the home half of the frame. Freshman A.J. Flores (West Orange, N.J./West Orange) started with a walk, junior Anthony Dorio (Lyndhurst, N.J./Lyndhurst) followed with a grounder up the middle to put runners on the corners, and after a popup, sophomore Scott Hansen (Saddle Brook, N.J./Don Bosco Prep) plated Flores with a sacrifice fly to left.

With runners on the corners and one out in the top of the second, left fielder Kyle LaVigne made it a 3-1 score with his sacrifice fly to left field. Once again, William Paterson had an answer as senior Mike Moran (Pompton Plains, N.J./Pequannock Twp.) drove in Rob Somers (West Long Branch, N.J./Shore Regional) with a single to right, making it a 3-2 game after three.

The Pioneers tied things up in the fourth when freshman Scott Ptaszynski (Wharton, N.J./Morris Hills) started things off with a triple to right-center field and trotted home thanks to a Flores sac fly.

William Paterson blew the game open with eight fifth-inning runs, taking advantage of six hits and four RPI errors. Somers walked and was safe at second when the Engineer shortstop bobbled the ball while trying to start a double play. Moran then put down a sacrifice bunt was safe when the ball was dropped at first base, loading the bases for designated hitter Jack Montanile (Weehawken, N.J./Hudson Catholic), who scored Somers with a sacrifice fly. A strikeout was the second out of the inning, but the Pioneers would go on to score seven more runs, all of them unearned. Flores tripled and scored on an overthrow of the bag, clearing the bases and making it a 7-3 game. Dorio and junior Adam Derner (River Edge, N.J./River Dell Regional) each contributed singles, and Hansen followed with a base hit that the RPI third baseman threw away, allowing Dorio to cross the plate. Somers plated the two runners with a single to left field, and freshman catcher Ken O'Donnell (Teaneck, N.J./Don Bosco Prep) promptly delivered Somers to home plate with a rip back up the middle. A final flyout ended the inning with William Paterson owning a commanding 11-3 lead.

RPI scored the game's final run via a Billy Nikolski RBI-double during the top of the ninth inning.

Derner finished 3-for-5 at the plate with a run scored for the Pioneers. Somers was 2-for-2 with a pair of RBI and three runs scored. Dorio went 2-for-6 at the dish and scored once, while Flores contributed three RBI and two runs scored. Junior Bryce Warden (West Milford, N.J./West Milford) improved to 2-0 with 8.0 innings pitched, allowing three runs on eight hits, walking one and striking out six. Junior Dan Alcala (Totowa, N.J./Passaic Valley Regional) pitched the ninth inning and surrendered one unearned run on two hits.

Levenson and Nikolski each contributed 2-for-4 efforts for RPI. Junior Alex Sardo started on the mound and surrendered three hits and two runs in 2.2 innings. Junior Sal Palmiero suffered the loss (0-1), giving up nine runs (two earned) on seven hits in 2.0 innings of work. Junior Jason Griffith pitched the final 3.1 innings of scoreless relief.

William Paterson will host John Jay Thursday, March 31, at 3:30 p.m.