BOX SCORE  

VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS

WAYNE, N.J. – Freshman Mike Arnold (Dumont, N.J./Dumont) had an auspicious college debut, going 2-for-3 with a home run and three RBI to help lead the William Paterson baseball team (2-0) to an 11-5 victory against the visiting Stevens Ducks (4-2) March 7.

The Ducks loaded the bases and threatened to take an early lead in the top half of the second inning, but junior Glenn Flora (Lyndhurst, N.J./Lyndhurst) struck out the last two batters of the frame to pull the Pioneers out of the jam.

The game remained scoreless until the top of the fourth inning when a triple to center field by freshman Marc Calleo plated Curt Lowenstein.  A suicide squeeze laid down the right foul line by sophomore Shane Raymond allowed Calleo to score, putting the Ducks ahead, 2-0.  The Pioneers answered back as junior Scott Hansen (Saddle Brook, N.J./Don Bosco Prep) lined a double into center field, pushing  Adam Derner (River Edge, N.J./River Dell Regional) to third base after he had reached on a walk.  Sophomore Scott Ptaszynski (Wharton, N.J./Morris Hills) picked up the RBI on a ground ball to the shortstop, scoring Derner to make the score 2-1.

Arnold picked up his first collegiate hit, blasting a two-run home run over the left-field fence to put the Pioneers in front 3-2 at the end of five innings.  William Paterson tacked on another run in the bottom of the sixth when a double by sophomore A.J. Flores (West Orange, N.J./West Orange) found the bottom of the center-field fence, plating Ptaszynski, who reached safely after singling up the middle.

The Pioneers put up seven runs in the next two innings to extend the lead to 11-2.  The Ducks put together a rally in the ninth, sparked by back-to-back pinch hit singles by Matt O'Brien and Pete Prontnicki.  Freshman Gregg Nickels stepped to the plate and laced a double to right field, allowing O'Brien to score.  A RBI-grounder by Raymond allowed Prontnicki to cross the plate, and first baseman Matt Glassman singled to left, scoring Nickels to make the score 11-5. 

Junior Ryan Gibbons (Glen Rock, N.J./Glen Rock), Ptaszynski, Flores and junior catcher Vin Fondacaro (Pompton Plains, N.J./Pequannock) all finished the day 2-for-4.

Junior Tim O'Shea (Oak Ridge, N.J./Jefferson) picked up the win for the Pioneers, not allowing a run in 4.0 innings of relief.  Flora started and went 4.0 innings, surrendering two runs and striking out five.  Junior James Young (Bayonne, N.J./Bayonne) closed the game for WP, allowing four hits in 1.0 inning.

Junior Matt Poinsett suffered the loss for the Ducks, tossing 4.1 innings and giving up two earned runs on four hits.

William Paterson will host Utica for a seven-inning doubleheader on Saturday, March 10, at 12:00 p.m.