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

GLASSBORO, N.J. – The William Paterson baseball team (15-6, 5-1 NJAC) moved into a tie for first place in the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) after splitting a doubleheader at Rowan (13-8, 2-3 NJAC), 3-2 and 6-2, April 6.

GAME ONE
William Paterson used another dramatic ninth-inning rally to take game one of the doubleheader against the Profs.  Back-to-back errors by the Rowan defense and a fielder's choice bunt by senior center fielder Ryan Gibbons (Glen Rock, N.J./Glen Rock) loaded the bases for the Pioneers.  Junior second baseman Scott Ptaszynski (Wharton, N.J./Morris Hills) chopped a ground ball to the Rowan shortstop to knot the game at 2-2.  Another fielder's choice ground ball off the bat of junior third baseman Rich Guillod (Closter, N.J./Northern Valley-Demarest) gave the Pioneers a 3-2 lead. 

The Pioneers loaded the bases in the top of the second inning, but were unable to capitalize on the opportunity.  Junior shortstop Rob Pasternak (South Plainfield, N.J./South Plainfield) led off the fifth inning with a single through the left side, followed by a Mike Arnold (Dumont, N.J./Dumont) knock through the middle.  Gibbons grounded out to move the runners over, and Ptaszynski was able to reach on an error that put WP on the board, 1-0. 

Rowan responded in the home half of the fifth as Rich Powelson led off the inning with a single and scored on a Ryan Williams double down the left-field line.  A sacrifice bunt and a ground out put the Profs in front, 2-1.

With runners on second and third in the bottom of the eighth inning, the Profs had an opportunity to extend their lead, but an outstanding full-extension diving catch at the base of the fence in left field by freshman Tyler Gargulio (Paramus, N.J./Paramus) spoiled the scoring opportunity and kept the Pioneers within striking distance.

Senior southpaw Tim O'Shea (Oak Ridge, N.J./Jefferson Twp.) tossed 8.0 hard-fought innings with seven strikeouts and two earned runs on five hits.  Freshman Frankie Colasante (Paramus, N.J./Paramus) threw 1.0 inning of scoreless relief, picking up his second save of the year.

Senior Steven Melchiorre threw 8.2 innings, allowing three runs (none earned) with nine strikeouts.  Sophomore Patrick D'Ascenzo closed the game for the Profs.

GAME TWO
Rowan put up two runs in the bottom of the first to hop out to an early lead.  Catcher Stephen Petriello knocked in right fielder Nick Kreiger with a double, and Connor Grant's single to right center scored Petriello.

In the top of the second, senior catcher Vin Fondacaro (Pompton Plains, N.J./Pequannock) laced a one-out single to right center and moved to third on a double by junior first baseman Trevor Haughney (Old Bridge, N.J./Old Bridge).  Pasternak's single through the left side plated Fondacaro to cut the lead in half, 2-1.

Rowan led 6-1 after one run in the third inning and three in the fourth.  First baseman Sean Kelly crossed the plate on a sac fly by center fielder Eric Perez in the third.  Petriello had an RBI-single in the fourth inning and Kelly recorded a two-run double. 

With one out in the eighth, Guillod roped a double down the left-field line and later scored on a Fondacaro single to make it a 6-2 contest.

Senior lefty James Young (Bayonne, N.J./Bayonne) suffered the loss for WP, surrendering six runs on five hits.  Matt Goitz (Hawthorne, N.J./Hawthorne), Tom Gaccione (Totowa, N.J./Passaic Valley Regional) and Kevin Cowan (Elizabeth, N.J./Roselle Catholic) each tossed 1.0 scoreless relief inning.

Right-hander Jeff White picked up the complete-game win for the Profs, allowing two runs on eight hits, striking out five.

Haughney was 4-for-6 on the day, while Fondacaro and Guillod each went 2-for-4 in the night cap.

William Paterson will host Baruch at Jeff Albies Field on Tuesday, April 9, 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 .