Box Score

WAYNE, N.J. – William Paterson (17-12-1, 5-5 NJAC) rallied late but could not overcome visiting Montclair State (14-11, 6-5 NJAC), losing a 10-5 New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) baseball contest on April 21.

Montclair State got off to an early start, scoring in each of the first four innings of play. A single by Jay Bionde, followed by a double to right field by Michael Boggi, plated the first run for the Red Hawks in the top of the first inning.

The Red Hawks' offense struck again in the top of the second after a leadoff walk by Jason Chesterman. Back-to-back singles by Anthony Bowens and Matthew Moreno scored Chesterman, and Bionde's single later plated another run and put runners on the corners. Junior Kevin Bond then doubled to straight-away center to drive in two more, giving the Red Hawks a 5-0 advantage.

A two-out double to right center by Bowens led to another score for Montclair State in the top half of the third inning. Moreno singled up the middle to plate Bowens, extending the lead to 6-0.

The Pioneers attempted to chip away during the bottom of the frame. Junior outfielder Rob Somers (West Long Branch, N.J./Shore Regional) doubled to straight-away center field, followed by a two-bagger by Scott Hansen (Saddle Brook, N.J./Don Bosco Prep) that plated the first run for the Pioneers, cutting the lead to 6-1.

Montclair responded by pushing across another run in the top of the fourth when a Bionde single scored Mickey McGraw, who had previously reached on a double to right center, enhancing the Red Hawks' lead to 7-1.

Freshman Cody Pace doubled to right field, followed by a Chesterman base hit to center that gave the Red Hawks an 8-1 advantage in the seventh. The Pioneers answered back during the home half with a leadoff walk to senior Mike Moran (Pompton Plains, N.J./Pequannock Twp.). Junior Blake Crouch (River Edge, N.J./River Dell Regional) walked, giving the Pioneers first and second with no outs. Hansen advanced both runners with a groundout, allowing freshman third baseman A.J. Flores (West Orange, N.J./West Orange) to single through the right side and plate Moran to cut the lead to 8-2.

Brooks Miller knocked in a pair of runs with his ninth-inning double for a 10-2 MSU margin. Moran started the bottom of the ninth for WP with a double to right center, and Crouch's two-bagger drove Moran in. A Somers groundout moved Crouch up 90 feet before Hansen and Flores walked to load the bases. Freshman Scott Ptaszynski's (Wharton, N.J./Morris Hills) grounder resulted in the second out of the inning but was enough to plate Crouch, and a base on balls issued to junior first baseman Adam Derner (River Edge, N.J./River Dell Regional) once again filled the bases. Freshman catcher Ken O'Donnell (Teaneck, N.J./Don Bosco Prep) walked to force in Hansen, but a final flyout ended the Pioneers' comeback bid.

Crouch was 2-for-3 with a double, run and RBI, while Flores finished 2-for-3 and collected a RBI. O'Donnell went 2-for-4 with a run-batted-in.

Junior Chris Mongelli (Riverdale, N.J./Pompton Lakes) allowed five earned runs in just 1.2 innings of work (3-1). Freshman Eric Villegas (Newark, N.J./Elizabeth) pitched 1.2 innings, allowing six hits and two earned runs. Junior Dan Alcala (Totowa, N.J./Passaic Valley Regional) gave up three hits and one earned run in 3.1 innings of work. Freshman Matt Serra (Kearny, N.J./Kearny) finished the game, surrendering two runs on three hits in 2.1 innings on the mound.

Bionde was 3-for-4 with two RBI and a pair of runs scored to lead the Red Hawks. Bond went 2-for-4 with a double and two RBI, while McGraw, Bowens, Moreno and Mike Ercolano (Sussex, N.J./Vernon Twp.) each contributed a pair of hits.

Montclair State starter Jonathan Torregroza tossed 8.0 innings to improve to 2-2, giving up two runs and seven hits. Ian Oates allowed two hits and three runs in 0.2 inning, and Christopher Reynolds recorded the final out.

William Paterson will visit Montclair State Wednesday, April 22, at 2:00 p.m.