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

VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS

WAYNE, N.J. – A pair of comebacks allowed William Paterson (26-11, 13-5 NJAC) to sweep visiting Rutgers-Newark (8-31, 3-15 NJAC), 5-3 and 5-4, on Baseball Senior Day April 27.  The second-seeded Pioneers will host fifth-seeded Ramapo Tuesday, April 30, at 3:30 p.m. in the first round of the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) Baseball Tournament.

GAME ONE
Pioneers won game one in comeback fashion, with help from junior outfielder AJ Flores (West Orange, N.J./West Orange) and junior shortstop Rich Guillod (Closter, N.J./Northern Valley-Demarest), scoring four runs in the seventh inning.

Junior second baseman Scott Ptaszynski (Wharton, N.J./Morris Hills) singled, senior outfielder Ryan Gibbons (Glen Rock, N.J./Glen Rock) walked and junior first baseman Anthony DeEsposito (Ridgefield, N.J./Ridgefield Memorial) dropped a base hit into center field to load the bases with one out in the bottom of the second.  A squeeze play was unsuccessful, resulting in the second out of the inning, but freshman outfielder Tyler Garguilo (Paramus, N.J./Paramus) responded and hit a hard ground ball back to the pitcher, scoring Ptaszynski for the first run of the day.

The Scarlet Raiders steadily built a 3-1 lead, crossing the plate once during the fourth, fifth and sixth innings.  Two singles, a wild pitch and an RBI-groundout pushed across junior outfielder Jimmy Napolitano for the first run, a single, walk and Michael Murray base hit plated junior Steve Tamayo, and an error, two walks and another RBI-groundout drove in freshman third baseman Brian Kokos.

William Paterson regained control with a four-run seventh.  Gibbons started the rally with a leadoff double to right, DeEsposito walked and Garguilo sacrificed the two runners over a base.  Flores delivered a two-run single down the right-field line, tying the score, and he then put himself into scoring position by stealing second and third.  Junior third baseman Rob Pasternak (South Plainfield, N.J./South Plainfield) reached on an error by the third baseman, scoring Flores, and Guillod smacked a double down the left-field line to plate Pasternak and give the Pioneers a 5-3 lead.

The Pioneers and pitcher Frankie Colasante (Paramus, N.J./Paramus) got into some trouble in the ninth inning. With the bases loaded and two outs left, Kokos hit a hard ground ball to Ptaszynski, who made an outstanding diving stab to snare a ground ball and throw to first to end the game.

Flores led the Pioneers, going 3-for-4 and knocking in two runs, scoring once. Guillod went 2-for-3 with one RBI and a walk.

Sophomore Joe Moran (Wharton, N.J./Morris Hills) got the win, earning his first decision of the year (1-0) by pitching 1.1 innings, giving up one hit and no walks. Junior starter Josh Jensen (West Milford, N.J./West Milford) allowed three runs (two earned) and five hits in 5.1 innings, issuing five walks.  Senior Matt Goitz (Hawthorne, N.J./Hawthorne) walked one hitter in 0.1 inning.  Colasante picked up his conference-leading sixth save of the year, going 2.0 innings and surrendering three hits and one walk while striking out two.

Freshman starter Chris Nichols had a no decision in the game, going 6.1 innings and allowing three runs off eight hits, walking three and striking out two. Jonathon Dominguez suffered the loss, giving up two runs (both unearned) over 0.1 inning of work.  He surrendered two hits and struck out two to fall to 0-5.  Billy Taylor and Michael Garcia each pitched 0.2 inning, with Taylor giving up a walk. 

GAME TWO
The Pioneers fought back again, this time in the sixth with a three-run inning to overcome a 4-2 deficit.

The Scarlet Raiders didn't waste time in the top of the first. Capitalizing off mental errors by the Pioneers, Rutgers-Newark was able to score two runs off one hit. MacFarlane led off the inning by getting hit by a pitch. He then advanced to second on a balk by senior starter James Young (Bayonne, N.J./Bayonne). Matt Larangera reached second base on a fielding error by the shortstop, scoring MacFarlane. Larangera then stole third and scored on a base hit by Ryan Maloney to give the Raiders a 2-0 lead.

In the fourth inning, the Scarlet Raiders tacked on another run. Cameron Dias drew a walk with one out in the inning. Dan Lopes singled to center field, advancing Dias to second. Gerry Patrizio walked, loading the bases for Rutgers-Newark. MacFarlane delivered a single up the middle to bring home Dias, giving the Scarlet Raiders a 3-0 lead heading into the bottom of the fourth.

The Pioneers got on the board in the bottom of the fourth with two runs. Senior catcher Vin Fondacaro (Pompton Plains, N.J./Pequannock Twp.) belted a lead-off double over the left fielder's glove. Haughney brought home Fondacaro with a two-strike double to the gap in left-center field. Pasternak knocked a single to center, scoring Haughney and making it a 3-2 score.

Rutgers-Newark crossed the plate once in the fifth inning. Napolitino hit a double down the left-field line. Graham Commesso singled through the right side, advancing Napolitino to third, and Ryan Maloney reached on a fielder's choice to the shortstop, scoring Napolitino and extending the Scarlet Raiders' lead to 4-2.

The Pioneers took its first lead of the contest in the sixth. Fondacaro led the inning off with a single to left field, and Haughney singled right back up the middle to advance Fondacaro to second. Pasternak dropped a bunt down the third-base line and, when coupled with a throwing error, ended up on third base.  Fondacaro and Haughney scored on the play to tie the game at 4-4.  A wild-pitch then scored Pasternak, giving the Pioneers a 5-4 lead.

Pasternak led the Pioneers, going 3-for-4 with one run scored and one RBI. Haughney went 2-for-4 with one RBI and two runs scored, and Fondacaro also scored two runs and was 2-for-3 on the day.

Young went 4.0 innings, giving up four runs (two earned), six hits, and three walks while striking out three. Senior Matt Goitz (Hawthorne, N.J./Hawthorne) earned his first win of the season (1-0), giving up just one hit and striking out one over 5.0 innings.

Sophomore Andrew Nasti was charged with the loss (2-2). He gave up five runs, eight hits and one walk while striking out one over 6.0 innings. Michael Garcia went 2.0 innings, allowing one hit and striking out three.

Prior to the game, the Pioneers honored their seven seniors – J.J. Moran (River Vale, N.J./Pascack Valley), Steve Coral (Totowa, N.J./Passaic Valley Regional), Fondacaro, Gibbons, Goitz, Tim O'Shea (Oak Ridge, N.J./Jefferson Twp.) and Young.

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