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

VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS

WAYNE, N.J. – The William Paterson baseball team (21-11, 9-5 NJAC) rallied for a 5-3 game-two victory against visiting New Jersey City (15-18, 4-10 NJAC) after dropping the opener, 11-5, April 20 at Jeff Albies Field.  With four regular-season league games remaining, the Pioneers are tied for second in the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) standings.  The top six teams will qualify for the double-elimination NJAC Tournament that begins Tuesday, April 30.

GAME ONE
The Gothic Knights jumped out to an early lead en route to an 11-5 opening victory.

Sophomore first baseman Alex Weinstein started the top of the second with a base hit, advanced to third on classmate Matthew Wagner's single and scored when sophomore shortstop Nicholas D'Errico sent a base hit up the middle, handing NJCU a 1-0 lead.  The Gothic Knights made it a 6-0 game an inning later, taking advantage of RBI-singles by Weinstein and sophomore designated hitter Delio Coutinho, a run-scoring double off the bat of Wagner, a wild pitch and an RBI-single from D'Errico.

The Pioneers cut that deficit in half during the home half of the fourth.  Junior first baseman Trevor Haughney (Old Bridge, N.J./Old Bridge) sent a leadoff triple to right center, followed by a grounder up the middle by junior third baseman Rich Guillod (Closter, N.J./Northern Valley-Demarest) for WP's first run of the game.  Senior catcher Vin Fondacaro's (Pompton Plains, N.J./Pequannock Twp.) double to left-center field advanced Guillod to third, and after a strikeout, sophomore designated hitter Mike Arnold (Dumont, N.J./Dumont) plated both runners with his base hit to right.

Two singles gave New Jersey City runners on the corners with no one out in the fifth.  A pickoff throw to first ended up beneath the diving Wagner.  Weinstein was able to take advantage and sprinted home, extending the lead to 7-3.  The Gothic Knights tacked on two more in the sixth when senior outfielder Andrew Rivera doubled in sophomore third baseman Michael Martucci and Wagner plated Rivera with a base hit to right-center field.  Freshman catcher Andrew Niech's two-run double made it an 11-3 game by the middle of the seventh.

WP finished the scoring with a pair of ninth-inning runs.  Haughney drew a one-out walk and moved up a base on a groundout.  He scored thanks to a two-out error, and pinch hitter Alex Derner (River Edge, N.J./River Dell Regional) later crossed the plate via an Arnold base hit to center field.

Arnold was 2-for-4 with three RBI and a run scored, while Guillod and Fondacaro were 2-for-4 at the plate for the Pioneers.

Junior starter Josh Jensen (West Milford, N.J./West Milford) allowed 12 hits and six runs in 2.0 innings (4-2), while freshman Adam Miller (West Orange, N.J./West Orange) surrendered three runs (two earned) on five hits over 4.0 innings.  Sophomore Kevin Cowan (Elizabeth, N.J./Roselle Catholic) tossed the final 3.0 innings, giving up three hits and two runs.

Wagner was 4-for-5 and had two RBI, while Weinstein went 3-for-4 and scored three times.  Niech, Rivera and D'Errico also contributed three hits apiece.

Sophomore Kevin DeMauro (2-5) allowed three runs and eight hits in 7.0 innings, striking out three and walking two.  Senior Pedro Garcia threw a scoreless eighth, and junior Zack Markle gave up two unearned runs in the ninth.

GAME TWO
A four-run sixth allowed WP to get the split with a 5-3 win during the back end of the twin bill.

Martucci led off the game with a single through the left side, was sacrificed to second and advanced to third on a groundout.  Rivera's base hit to left gave NJCU an early 1-0 edge.

The Gothic Knights doubled their lead during the top half of the fifth inning.  Senior outfielder Michael Patterson started the frame with a triple to left-center field and Martucci immediately followed with an RBI-groundout.

A one-out walk to junior DH Rob Roman, stolen base, balk and Patterson RBI-single made it a 3-0 New Jersey City lead by the middle of the sixth, but the Pioneers were able to respond during the home half of the inning.  Junior outfielder AJ Flores (West Orange, N.J./West Orange) opened the frame with a double down the left-field line, junior second baseman Rob Pasternak (South Plainfield, N.J./South Plainfield) walked and Haughney sent a single into left, loading the bases.  A wild pitch allowed Flores to scamper home, and Guillod cleared the other two runners with a two-RBI base hit to left, tying the score.  A groundout and error left Guillod standing on third, and Fondacaro singled him in for WP's first lead of the day.

Flores again started things for the Pioneers, opening the bottom of the seventh inning with a base hit.  He was sacrificed to second by Pasternak and plated by a Haughney RBI-single, providing an insurance run and a 5-3 margin.

Flores scored twice and hit a double as part of a 2-for-4 effort.  Fondacaro and Haughney were both 2-for-4 as well, and Guillod provided a pair of RBI.

Senior starter James Young (Bayonne, N.J./Bayonne) gave up three runs and nine hits in 5.1 innings, striking out three and walking one.  Freshman Frankie Colasante (Paramus, N.J./Paramus) picked up the victory in relief (2-1), tossing 3.2 scoreless innings and scattering two hits.

Niech, Rivera, Roman and Patterson each had two-hit efforts for NJCU.  Freshman Tommy Trela pitched the first 5.0 innings, allowing three runs on four hits.  Freshman Nick DeMarco (2-1) gave up one run and two hits during 0.1 inning of work, while Coutinho surrendered three hits and a run while pitching the final 2.2 innings.

William Paterson will visit New Paltz Tuesday, April 23, at 4:00 p.m.

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