Box Score

NEWARK, N.J. – William Paterson (18-14-1, 6-7 NJAC) used the hot hitting of junior first baseman Adam Derner (River Edge, N.J./River Dell Regional) and a solid effort on the mound by classmate Bryce Warden (West Milford, N.J./West Milford) to earn a 9-3 victory against host Rutgers-Newark (19-14, 9-6 NJAC) April 28 at Riverfront Stadium.

Derner contributed the first run of the game after a double, passed ball and RBI-single from freshman designated hitter Ken O'Donnell (Teaneck, N.J./Don Bosco Prep). That ignited a three-run third inning for WP, as sophomore Scott Hansen (Saddle Brook, N.J./Don Bosco Prep) sent a base hit into right center and senior Mike Moran (Pompton Plains, N.J./Pequannock Twp.) followed with a bases-clearing single for a 3-0 score.

The Scarlet Raiders got one run back during the bottom half of the inning when Michael Cassese led off with a triple and was promptly plated on a Patrick Reitemeyer base hit through the left side of the infield.

William Paterson touched home once in the fourth. Junior left fielder Rob Somers (West Long Branch, N.J./Shore Regional) drew a one-out walk, moved to second on a fielder's choice and to third on a grounder back to the pitcher before racing home on a wild pitch.

Rutgers-Newark made it a 5-2 score in the fifth, using a single, double and groundout, but the Pioneers opened up an 8-2 edge in the top of the sixth when Derner hit a home run down the left-field line, scoring freshman A.J. Flores (West Orange, N.J./West Orange) and junior Anthony Dorio (Lyndhurst, N.J./Lyndhurst).

Each team put up a run in the eighth. Dorio's one-out base on balls was followed by a wild pitch and a Derner RBI-single to right field. Matt Connors started the bottom half of the inning with a triple and later scampered home on a groundout to third base.

Moran accounted for the final run of the game, starting the top of the ninth with a single and stealing second before freshman Scott Ptaszynski's (Wharton, N.J./Morris Hills) base hit put runners on the corners. A sacrifice fly to left off the bat of Somers was enough to send Moran the final 90 feet.

Derner was 3-for-5 with a double, two runs and four RBI, while Moran finished 4-for-5, scored one run and drove in two. Warden (5-1) allowed three runs and eight hits over 8.0 innings, striking out four and walking two. Junior Dan Alcala (Totowa, N.J./Passaic Valley Regional) gave up one hit in 0.1 inning, and classmate Steve Coral (Totowa, N.J./Passaic Valley Regional) retired the final hitters, one by strikeout.

Reitemeyer was 2-for-4 with a double and RBI, while Connors went 2-for-5 with a triple. Junior Connor Medler fell to 6-1, surrendering six runs on eight hits over 5.2 innings.

With five league regular-season games remaining, the win pulled the Pioneers within one game of Ramapo (7-5) and Montclair State (7-6), two teams currently tied for fifth. The top six teams will qualify for the upcoming New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) Tournament.

William Paterson will host Rutgers-Newark Friday, April 29, at 3:30 p.m.