STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. – Junior Mike Knauf's (Manalapan, N.J./Manalapan) two-run single in the top of the 11th inning proved to be the difference as the William Paterson baseball team (10-6) earned a 13-11 victory at Staten Island (8-6) March 22.
 
The Pioneers stormed out to a 7-0 lead during their first at-bat. Junior center fielder Mike Abate (Wayne, N.J./Wayne Hills) led off with a triple to right, and graduate student third baseman K.C. Abel (Wayne, N.J./Wayne Valley) had an RBI-single through the left side. Senior right fielder Jimmy Kenny (Fairfield, N.J./West Essex Regional) followed with a run-scoring double to center field, and junior designated hitter Eriq Colon (Hackensack, N.J./Hackensack) cleared the bases with a home run. Sophomore first baseman Anthony Hoagland (Dumont, N.J./Dumont) walked and sophomore second baseman Rob Eggert (South Plainfield, N.J./South Plainfield) added a base hit through the left side before a flyout left runners on the corners. A wild pitch plated Hoagland, and a two-out double by senior left fielder Tyler Garguilo (Paramus, N.J./Paramus) scored two runners before Abate's RBI-double to left center made it a 7-0 margin.
 
A single, groundout, error and two-run double put the Dolphins on the scoreboard during the bottom of the second.
 
Freshman shortstop Garret Wiedemann (Paramus, N.J./Paramus) opened the top of the third inning with a base hit through the left side, was sacrificed to second by sophomore catcher Jorge Solodkin (Short Hills, N.J./Millburn) and scored via a Garguilo single to right.
 
CSI crossed the plate three times in the home half of the third. A double and sacrifice led to an RBI-single, and a base hit and walk loaded the bases for senior right fielder Phil Ciprello, who pushed across two Dolphins with a single and made it an 8-5 game.
 
An error and double added one more Staten Island run in the fourth, and CSI tied the game at 8-8 during the bottom of the fifth inning thanks to an error, double and single. The Dolphins took their first lead of the game when they strung together a double, groundout and base hit for a 9-8 margin after seven frames.
 
WP tied it up during its next at-bat, as a leadoff error, Solodkin sacrifice and another error scored sophomore Jacob Bailey (Middletown, N.J./Middletown North), but CSI took a 10-9 lead with a two-out single, a steal and error, walk, and error in the bottom of the eighth inning.
 
Colon drew a base on balls to start the ninth, and was lifted for senior pinch runner Jordan Aughey (Wanaque, N.J./Lakeland Regional). He was advanced to second by a Hoagland bunt, and an infield pinch-hit single by junior Mike Rowe (Cedar Grove, N.J./Cedar Grove) led to Bailey's two-run double to left-center field, giving William Paterson an 11-10 advantage.
 
The Dolphins forced extra innings with a base hit, sacrifice, stolen base, walk and Frank Muzzio sacrifice fly.
 
Hoagland and senior Justin Ferreira (Elmwood Park, N.J./Elmwood Park Memorial) hit one-out singles during the top of the 11th inning, and a flyout resulted in runners on the corners for Knauf, who drilled a two-out pitch into left field for a two-run single.
 
Colon was 2-for-4 with a two-run home run, while Abate finished 3-for-5 with a double, triple and RBI. Bailey, Knauf and Garguilo each contributed a pair of runs-batted-in.
 
Sophomore starter Mario Danza (Monroe, N.J./Monroe Twp.) tossed 3.2 innings, allowing six runs (three earned) on seven hits and a walk, striking out two. Freshman Kevin Ludden (Monroe, N.J./Monroe Twp.) gave up five hits and four runs (two earned) with two walks and four strikeouts over 4.0 innings, while classmate Chris Babb (West Milford, N.J./DePaul Catholic) struck out the only batter he faced. Sophomore Bryan Kopko (Colonia, N.J./Colonia) got the win in relief (3-0), throwing 3.0 innings and surrendering one run on three hits and a walk while registering two strikeouts.
 
Sophomore left fielder Glenn Glennerster went 3-for-4 with a double, two RBI and a run scored for CSI. Ciprello was 3-for-5 and posted three RBI and a run scored. Junior Jason Failla suffered the loss (0-1) after giving up three runs on five hits over 2.2 innings while striking out two.
 
William Paterson will play at Manhattanville Wednesday, March 23, at 3:30 p.m.
 
For all of the latest information on the Pioneers, visit http://www.wpupioneers.com and http://www.wpupioneers.com/socialmedia.