WAYNE, N.J. – The William Paterson baseball team (14-10, 3-2 NJAC) dropped 11-3 and 11-0 decisions to visiting No. 28 The College of New Jersey (18-4, 3-2 NJAC) April 10.
 
Game One
TCNJ opened up a 9-1 lead en route to an 11-3 opening victory.
 
The Lions crossed the plate once during their first at-bat, as leadoff hitter John Rizzi was hit by a pitch, stole second on advanced to third on a throwing error on the play, then scored when sophomore third baseman Patrick Anderson grounded out to the shortstop.
 
The Pioneers tied the score in the home half of the second. Junior catcher Mike Knauf (Manalapan, N.J./Manalapan) hit a one-out double inches inside the left-field line, followed by a base hit to right by sophomore first baseman Anthony Hoagland (Dumont, N.J./Dumont) that left runners on the corners. Knauf then sprinted home when sophomore second baseman Rob Eggert (South Plainfield, N.J./South Plainfield) grounded out to the second baseman.
 
TCNJ answered with a three-run third. Anderson doubled into the left-field corner, and a after a popup, sophomore pitcher Mario Danza (Monroe, N.J./Monroe Twp.) fielded a slow ground ball on the first-base line, but senior designated hitter Garen Turner avoided the tag and was safe at first. Following a flyout, Turner stole second, and junior first baseman Alex Christian singled through the left side of the infield to plate two runners. A CJ Gearhart double to center drove in Christian and made it a 4-1 game.
 
The Lions extended it to a 9-1 score in the sixth. Sophomore left fielder Mike Follet led off with a double down the left-field line, and an error on a sacrifice attempt resulted in runners on the corners with zero outs. Rizzi singled in Follet, and after a successful sac bunt, senior right fielder Patrick Roberts hit an RBI-single up the middle and Turner plated Rizzi with a squeeze bunt. Sophomore shortstop Zachary Shindler's base hit through the right side made it an 8-1 margin, and Turner later touched home thanks to a wild pitch.
 
WP pushed across a pair of seventh-inning runs. Knauf led off with a single through the left side of the infield and was replaced by pinch runner Garret Wiedemann (Paramus, N.J./Paramus). After a flyout, Eggert had a base hit through the right side and senior third baseman Justin Ferreira (Elmwood Park, N.J./Elmwood Park Memorial) doubled in both runners with a ball driven to the left-center gap.
 
TCNJ finished the scoring during the top of the ninth as Christian doubled, Gearhart walked, both runners advanced on a wild pitch, Follet hit an RBI-groundout and junior second baseman Ben Varone singled up the middle.
 
Knauf was 2-for-3 with a double and run scored, while Ferreira had a two-run double.
 
Danza (0-1) allowed four runs (three earned) on seven hits and a walk over 4.1 innings, and freshman Kevin Ludden (Monroe, N.J./Monroe Twp.) gave up five hits and five runs (four earned) with one strikeout in 1.2 innings pitched. Freshman Chase Strynkowski (Hillsdale, N.J./Pascack Valley Regional) and sophomore Steve Duda (Berkeley Heights, N.J./Governor Livingston) each tossed 1.0 hitless inning of relief, while sophomore Steve Addesso (Wayne, N.J./Wayne Hills) surrendered two runs on two hits and a pair of walks in 0.1 inning. Freshman Jeff Lombardi (Kendall Park, N.J./South Brunswick) recorded the final two outs.
 
Christian finished 2-for-5 with a double, two RBI and a pair of runs scored. Senior Steven Volpe gave up three runs on eight hits and two walks over 7.0 innings, striking out three (4-0). Classmate Joe DiLorenzo pitched the final 2.0 scoreless innings, allowing one hit.
 
Game Two
The Lions rapped out 17 hits on their way to a closing 11-0 win.
 
TCNJ seized control with a seven-run third inning. A Follet base hit to short and bunt singles from Varone and Rizzi loaded the bases for Anderson. He hit a liner off graduate student shortstop K.C. Abel's (Wayne, N.J./Wayne Valley) glove that was picked up by charging junior center fielder Mike Abate (Wayne, N.J./Wayne Hills), who got the force out at third, but a run scored on the play. Roberts doubled in Rizzi, Turner's base hit up the middle plated two runs, and after a Shindler single to center, Christian hit a run-scoring single up the middle. Two batters later, Follet added a two-run base hit into center field.
 
Three more runners touched home plate in the top of the sixth. Rizzi had a two-out double down the left-field line, and an error left runners on the corners. Roberts put an RBI-single through the right side, Turner drove in a run with a base hit up the middle, and Shindler made it a 10-0 score with a single through the right side of the infield.
 
A Matt Facas base hit, Erik Rano walk and wild pitch, and Ryan Fischer pinch-hit infield single added another Lion run in the ninth.
 
Abate was 3-for-4 and senior first baseman Jon Bujtas (Boonton, N.J./Seton Hall Prep) finished 2-for-3 for WP.
 
Freshman Chris Babb (West Milford, N.J./DePaul Catholic) surrendered nine hits, seven runs and two walks over 5.0 innings, striking out one (3-1). Strynkowski gave up three unearned runs on four hits over 0.2 inning, while freshman Chris Phillips (Wayne, N.J./Wayne Hills) posted two punchouts in 1.1 innings of hitless relief. Duda scattered two hits over 1.0 inning with one strikeout, and Lombardi allowed two hits, one walk and a run in 1.0 inning of work.
 
Roberts was 3-for-5 with a double, two RBI and a pair of runs scored. Turner finished 2-for-5, drove in three runs and scored once. Sophomore Joe Cirillo struck out three and walked one over 7.0 innings, scattering four hits (5-1). Junior Eric Teasdale had three strikeouts and two hits allowed during the final 2.0 innings.
 
William Paterson will host Kean Monday, April 11, at 3:30 p.m. The first 65 WP students with ID will receive a free sweatshirt.
 
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