BOX SCORE

MONTCLAIR, N.J. – William Paterson (23-11, 10-5 NJAC) secured a spot for the upcoming New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) Baseball Tournament with a 4-1 victory at Montclair State (12-17-1, 4-10-1 NJAC) April 25.

The six-team, double-elimination tourney will begin Tuesday, April 30, with the top three seeds hosting single games.

The Pioneers staked themselves to a 2-0 third-inning lead.  Freshman outfielder Tyler Garguilo (Paramus, N.J./Paramus) led off the frame with a single and advanced to second on a groundout.  An error put junior second baseman Rob Pasternak (South Plainfield, N.J./South Plainfield) aboard and pushed Garguilo to third, followed by a sacrifice fly from junior shortstop Rich Guillod (Closter, N.J./Northern Valley-Demarest).  Senior catcher Vin Fondacaro (Pompton Plains, N.J./Pequannock Twp.) then doubled in Pasternak for WP's second run of the afternoon.

Garguilo again led off the inning with a base hit, this one a bunt to start the top of the fifth.  Junior outfielder AJ Flores (West Orange, N.J./West Orange) singled to get Garguilo to third, and this time Pasternak provided the sac fly and a 3-0 edge.

Junior first baseman Anthony DeEsposito (Ridgefield, N.J./Ridgefield Memorial) doubled to start the seventh, Garguilo had a bunt single and Flores walked to load the bases.  A grounder resulted in the first out of the inning being recorded at the plate, but Guillod followed with his second sacrifice fly of the day to push the advantage to 4-0.

MSU answered with its only run of the game during the home half of the same inning.  Stephen Nappe was issued a leadoff walk, gained a base thanks to a groundout and touched home after Louis Martini's base hit.

The Pioneers worked out of a bit of a jam in the bottom of the eighth after a hit by pitch to start the inning.  Freshman reliever Frankie Colasante (Paramus, N.J./Paramus) entered and walked the first hitter he faced to put two runners on with zero outs, but he struck out the next three Red Hawks to end the threat and the inning.

Garguilo finished 3-for-4 and scored three of WP's four runs.  Guillod went 1-for-2 with two RBI.

Senior starter Tim O'Shea (Oak Ridge, N.J./Jefferson Twp.) struck out seven in 7.0 innings, scattering five hits and allowing one run (5-1).  Colasante picked up his league-leading fifth save of the year, tossing 2.0 hitless innings that included three strikeouts and a walk.

Jose Carlos Padilla went 2-for-3 at the plate for Montclair State.  Jonathan Torregroz took the complete-game loss (4-2), surrendering four runs (three earned) on nine hits, striking out seven and walking three.

William Paterson will host the Red Hawks Friday, April 26, at 3:30 p.m.

For all of the latest information on the Pioneers, visit http://www.wpupioneers.com, http://www.facebook.com/wpupioneers, http://www.youtube.com/thewpupioneers and http://twitter.com/wpupioneers.