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VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS

WAYNE, N.J. –The William Paterson baseball team (27-10, 9-6 NJAC) picked up a crucial New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) victory, 9-6, on Senior Day against Rutgers-Newark (15-21, 4-11 NJAC) April 26 at Jeff Albies Field.  With the win, the Pioneers have secured one of six spots in the upcoming NJAC Tournament that begins with first-round games on Tuesday, May 1, at campus sites.

Senior outfielder Chris Ballester led off the game for the Scarlet Raiders with a single through the middle of the infield, followed by a sacrifice bunt placed down the third-base line by sophomore Vin Troisi.  Senior third baseman Tim Miller was hit by a pitch, and senior Anthony Palladino drew a one-out walk to load the bases.  Sophomore outfielder Jimmy Napolitano delivered a sacrifice fly to right field to plate the first run of the game.  Senior Mike Ciaramello singled through the middle to put Rutgers-Newark in front, 2-0.  The Pioneers responded in the bottom half of the frame with back-to-back singles by junior outfielder Ryan Gibbons (Glen Rock, N.J./Glen Rock) and sophomore second baseman Scott Ptaszynski (Wharton, N.J./Morris Hills) that cut the lead in half, 2-1.

Senior outfielder Rob Somers (West Long Branch, N.J./Shore Regional) led off the Pioneer second inning with a double down the right-field line, and came around to score on a Vin Fondacaro (Pompton Plains, N.J./Pequannock) double to right-center that knotted the score at 2-2.  WP loaded the bases in the bottom of the third on two walks and a fielder's choice for senior designated hitter Adam Derner (River Edge, N.J./River Dell Regional) who delivered a sacrifice fly to plate Gibbons.  Somers singled down the left-field line to drive in Ptaszynski, who reached on a fielder's choice, to give the Pioneers a 4-2 advantage.  William Paterson added another run in the bottom of the fourth frame as sophomore outfielder A.J. Flores (West Orange, N.J./West Orange) led off the inning with a single.  Senior shortstop Anthony Dorio (Lyndhurst, N.J./Lyndhurst) laid a sacrifice bunt down the first-base line to move the runner up a base.  Flores stole third, and scored on a Gibbons' single through the middle to extend the lead, 5-2.

Rutgers-Newark answered with back-to-back singles by Troisi and Miller to lead off the top of the fifth.  Both runners moved up on a wild pitch, and Troisi crossed home on a Napolitano single to left field.  Miller scored on a fielder's choice to make it a one-run game, 5-4.  The Scarlet Raiders knotted the score at 5-5 in the top of the sixth inning as Troisi crossed the plate, unearned, on a groundout to the pitcher.

The Pioneers regained the lead in the bottom of the sixth frame as senior Jack Montanile (Weehawken, N.J./Hudson Catholic) drew a bases-loaded walk to go ahead, 6-5.  Rutgers-Newark evened the score again in the top of the seventh inning beginning with freshman shortstop Matt Goldberg's double to center.  Freshman Andrew Nasti drew a base-on-balls and sophomore outfielder Andrew McCluskey singled through the middle to score Goldberg.  Nasti broke for home on a fielder's choice ground ball by Ballester that one-hopped back to the pitcher, but freshman Tom Gaccione (Little Falls, N.J./Passaic Valley Regional) was able to get the out at the plate, saving another run from coming across.

Fondacaro led off the bottom of the seventh frame with a walk, and junior James Lauer (Hamilton, N.J./Pennington Prep) laid down a pinch-hit sacrifice bunt that was misplayed by the Scarlet Raiders defense, allowing Fondacaro to score.  Lauer ended up at third on the error, and Dorio laid a perfectly placed suicide squeeze down the first-base line to plate Lauer and put the Pioneers in front, 8-6.  Derner was hit by a pitch and Somers drew a walk to lead off the Pioneer eighth inning.  Lauer laced a double to right-center that plated Derner.

Rutgers-Newark threatened in the top of the ninth putting runners on first and second, but Gaccione was able to work out of the jam to give the Pioneers a 9-6 victory.

Gaccione picked up the win in relief tossing 2.2 innings, allowing no runs on one hit.  Junior lefty Tim O'Shea (Oak Ridge, N.J./Jefferson) started for the Pioneers going 6.1 innings, allowing six runs (five earned) and striking out two.

Sophomore Michael Garcia suffered the loss in relief for Rutgers-Newark throwing 1.0 inning, allowing two runs, none of which were earned.  Junior Kyle Van Vliet was the starter for the Scarlet Raiders throwing 4.0 innings, allowing five runs (four earned), striking out four.  Napolitano went 1-for-4 with two runs-batted-in, and Ciaramello was 1-for-3 with two RBI.

Eight different Pioneers drove in runs in the victory.  Gibbons was 2-for-2 with two runs scored and a RBI, while Somers finished 2-for-4 with a run scored and a run-batted-in.  Flores went 2-for-4 with two runs scored, and Lauer was 1-for-2 with a run scored and a RBI.

Prior to the game William Paterson honored its five senior student athletes - Derner, Dorio, Montanile, Somers, and senior pitcher Dan Alcala (Paterson, N.J./Passaic Valley Regional).

William Paterson will travel to Rutgers-Newark for the second game of the home-and-home series on Friday, April 27 at 6:00 p.m.