BOX SCORE (Game #1)
BOX SCORE (Game #2)

VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS

WAYNE, N.J. – Junior outfielder AJ Flores' (West Orange, N.J./West Orange) clutch hits during both halves of the doubleheader allowed William Paterson (12-4, 2-0 NJAC) to begin New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) baseball action with a 7-2, 6-5 sweep of visiting Richard Stockton (12-9, 0-2 NJAC) March 30.

GAME ONE
After a shaky first inning that put WP into a 1-0 hole, the Pioneers crossed the plate three times in both the fifth and sixth innings to run away with a 7-2 opening victory.

A lead-off double just inside the bag by junior outfielder Mike Bush and a Barry Larro single into right put runners on the corners for the Ospreys in the first.  A ball in the dirt was stopped by senior catcher Vin Fondacaro (Pompton Plains, N.J./Pequannock Twp.), who threw down to first behind Larro.  In working him into a run-down, Bush strayed too far off the bag at third, and was tagged out by junior third baseman Rich Guillod (Closter, N.J./Northern Valley-Demarest) for the first out of the game.  However, Larro stole second and then was able to score thanks to sophomore first baseman Brett Solomen's base hit to right field.

The Pioneers fought back to hang three runs on the scoreboard during the bottom of the fifth.  Junior second baseman Scott Ptaszynski (Wharton, N.J./Morris Hills) drilled a single back up the middle to get things started, followed by a walk issued to junior shortstop Rob Pasternak (South Plainfield, N.J./South Plainfield), who was squared around to bunt.  Freshman designated hitter Jimmy Kenny (Fairfield, N.J./West Essex Regional) sacrificed the two runners over, and following a popup, senior outfielder Ryan Gibbons (Glen Rock, N.J./Glen Rock) was walked to load the bases.  One of the hottest hitters in the WP lineup, Flores hit a fly ball that was able to get down to the turf in right-center field.  Ptaszynski and Pasternak scored easily on the double, and Gibbons slid under the catcher on the high throw to the plate, giving WP the momentum and a 3-1 lead.

William Paterson added three more in the sixth.  Fondacaro hit a one-out single and Ptaszynski sent a grounder through the hole on the left side before a flyout resulted in the second out of the inning.  Kenny's single plated Fondacaro from second, and a grounder off freshman outfielder Tyler Garguilo's (Paramus, N.J./Paramus) bat was fielded by Stockton shortstop Mark Jankowski, but he couldn't make the easy flip to second, an error that loaded the bases.  Gibbons' single into right field drove in Ptaszynski and Kenny and made it a 6-1 Pioneer advantage.

Each team crossed the plate once during the eighth inning.  Junior second baseman Luke Root reached second on a one-out error, advanced to third via Bush's single to right and scored on a Larro sac fly.  For the Pioneers, Pasternak was issued a leadoff walk, Kenny's single to the gap in left-center moved him to third, but a fielder's choice resulted in a tag for the out at the plate.  Gibbons later hit an RBI-groundout to plate Kenny, making it a 7-2 contest.

Ptaszynski was 3-for-4, scoring twice, while Flores finished 2-for-4 with a double and three RBI.  Gibbons also was 2-for-4 and collected three RBI and a run scored, and Kenny went 2-for-3, drove in a runner and scored twice himself.

Senior Steve Coral (Totowa, N.J./Passaic Valley Regional) settled down after that first inning on the mound, finishing with a line of seven hits scattered over the complete-game 9.0 innings, two runs (one earned) allowed, four strikeouts and zero walks.

Bush and senior designated hitter Shawn Kessler were both 2-for-4 for the Ospreys.  Senior Gage Mick saw his record fall to 3-3, surrendering nine hits and six runs (four earned), walking three and striking out four in 5.2 innings.  Junior James DiPiazza tossed the final 2.1 innings, giving up one run on one hit.

GAME TWO
Again it was Flores who gave William Paterson the lead for good, this time with a two-run, sixth-inning single as the Pioneers held off a late rally for a 6-5 victory.

Each team crossed the plate once during the first frame.  In the top half of the inning, Bush and sophomore outfielder George Eisenhart had singles to put runners at the corners with two outs, and junior third baseman Travis Marra sent a base hit back up the middle to drive in Bush.  A leadoff double and a groundout put Flores at third, and Guillod's infield base hit evened the score at 1-1 after one.

Flores reached base during the home half of the third thanks to a one-out error, and he moved up to second via Gibbons' single to left.  A double steal and a Guillod sacrifice fly to center broke the tie and made it a 2-1 William Paterson advantage.

The Pioneers added one more in the fourth.  Ptaszynski and junior first baseman Trevor Haughney (Old Bridge, N.J./Old Bridge) singled, and Pasternak's hard groundout to the first baseman was enough to produce an RBI as Ptaszynski touched home and stretched the lead to 3-1.

Richard Stockton used a three-run sixth to move back ahead on the scoreboard.  Bush started the frame with a bunt single and stole second before a flyout.  A Solomen slow roller to short put runners on the corners for Eisenhart, who lifted a sacrifice fly to center field and drove in Bush.  Solomen went to second on a wild pitch and raced home when Marra's grounder found the hole on the left side of the infield.  When Kessler's base hit again gave the Ospreys runners on the corners, Jankowski lined an RBI-single into right field, nudging Stockton ahead by a 4-3 count.

WP answered immediately, putting up three runs of its own during the home half of the frame.  A leadoff walk to Fondacaro chased Osprey starter Adam Warburton, who was replaced by junior Brendan Stout.  Ptaszynski's sacrifice attempt resulted in the throw beating Fondacaro to second base, and another fielder's choice left the Pioneers with Kenny at first and two outs.  Haughney singled before freshman Jared Guglielmino (Bloomfield, N.J./Bloomfield) was inserted to run for Kenny.  Pasternak's double to left-center field easily plated Guglielmino, Garguilo walked to load the bases, and Flores once again came up with a clutch hit, this time a two-run single to right that broke the deadlock and made it a 6-4 score.

A Jankowski walk and a Root double cut the William Paterson lead in half, 6-5, in the top of the ninth, but Bush struck out looking to end the threat and the game.

Flores was 2-for-4 with a double, two RBI and a pair of runs scored, while Haughney went 3-for-4 and touched home once.  Pasternak finished 2-for-4, hitting a double and driving in two runs, and Gibbons added a pair of stolen bases to his 2-for-5 effort.

Junior Josh Jensen (West Milford, N.J./West Milford) improved to 2-1, allowing four runs on 10 hits while striking out three in 6.0 innings.  Senior Tim O'Shea (Oak Ridge, N.J./Jefferson Twp.) picked up the three-inning save (one), striking out four, walking two and giving up a run on one hit.

Bush, Marra, Jankowski and Root each collected a pair of hits for the Ospreys.  Warburton surrendered seven hits and four runs (three earned) in 5.0 innings, and Stout (4-2) took the loss, allowing two runs on five hits in 2.0 innings.  Junior Brandon Trainor gave up a pair of hits during 1.0 scoreless inning of relief.

William Paterson will visit St. Joseph's-Long Island Tuesday, April 2, at 3:30 p.m.

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