AUBURNDALE, FLA. – William Paterson (9-4) pushed across two runs during the bottom of the eighth inning for a 6-4 baseball victory against Endicott (3-3) March 17 at the Central Florida Invitational.
 
The Gulls struck first, stringing together a double, sacrifice and single for a 1-0 lead in the top of the second.
 
WP leveled the score during the bottom half of the third, as graduate student third baseman K.C. Abel (Wayne, N.J./Wayne Valley) doubled to left center to lead off, sophomore first baseman Anthony Hoagland (Dumont, N.J./Dumont) sacrificed him to third and senior right fielder Jimmy Kenny (Fairfield, N.J./West Essex Regional) sent an RBI-single to left.
 
Endicott used a single, sacrifice bunt, sac fly and double to make it a 2-1 game in the fifth, but the Pioneers tied it back up during their next at-bat when Abel doubled down the right-field line and Kenny later dropped a run-scoring base hit into right.
 
The Gulls nudged back ahead following a single, sacrifice, error and groundout in the top of the sixth, and made it a 4-2 margin in the seventh thanks to a walk, base hit and error.
 
WP again evened the score, this time with a two-run seventh. Hoagland was issued a leadoff walk and Kenny followed with a double down the left-field line. Two batters later, senior shortstop Victor Sanchez (Haverstraw, N.Y./North Rockland) delivered both runners with an RBI-single to right.
 
Senior left fielder Tyler Garguilo (Paramus, N.J./Paramus) was hit by a pitch with one out in the bottom of the eighth inning and stole second before junior center fielder Mike Abate (Wayne, N.J./Wayne Hills) got aboard via another hit by pitch. Abel's double to left center plated both Pioneers and gave WP its first lead of the day at 6-4.
 
Abel finished 3-for-5 with three doubles, two RBI and a pair of runs scored. Kenny went 3-for-4 while posting a double, two RBI and a run, while Sanchez was 2-for-4 and drove in a pair of runs.
 
Sophomore Mario Danza (Monroe, N.J./Monroe Twp.) threw the first 6.0 innings as the starter, allowing three runs (two earned) on seven hits and two walks while striking out three. Classmate Steve Duda (Berkeley Heights, N.J./Governor Livingston) posted two hits and one unearned run allowed over 1.1 innings with a strikeout and two walks. Sophomore Bryan Kopko (Colonia, N.J./Colonia) picked up the victory (2-0) with 1.2 innings of one-hit relief.
 
Freshman left fielder Evan Lumpinski led Endicott with a 3-for-4 effort, contributing two RBI. Senior Nick Quattro fell to 0-1, surrendering three runs on three hits during 3.0 innings of middle relief, posting three strikeouts and a walk.
 
William Paterson will face No. 5 Wisconsin-La Crosse Friday, March 18, at 9:15 a.m. at the Central Florida Invitational.
 
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