CAMDEN, N.J. – The William Paterson baseball team (11-7, 0-2 NJAC) saw its hot bats cooled by Rutgers-Camden (10-5, 2-0 NJAC), as the host Scarlet Raptors scored 2-0 and 4-1 victories during the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) opening games March 31.
Game One
The Scarlet Raptors got a complete-game two-hitter from their starting pitcher for a 2-0 opening victory.
Rutgers-Camden used a walk, fielder's choice, passed ball and double to plate a single unearned run during its first at-bat.
The Scarlet Raptors doubled their lead in the fourth, taking advantage of a leadoff base on balls, two groundouts and an RBI-double.
Freshman center fielder
Steven DiGirolamo (Dumont, N.J./Dumont) and sophomore third baseman
Carlos Perez (Hawthorne, N.J./Hawthorne) each tallied a hit for the Pioneers.
Junior starter
Corey Martinez (River Edge, N.J./River Dell Regional) went 6.2 innings, allowing two runs (one earned) on five hits and four walks, striking out one (3-1). Senior
Adam Miller (West Orange, N.J./West Orange) tossed the final 1.1 scoreless innings, posting a strikeout while giving up a hit.
Sophomore left fielder John Tedeschi and senior right fielder Brandon Cornelius each contributed an RBI-double for Rutgers-Camden. Junior Ian Scheidemann had the complete-game shutout, scattering two hits and striking out 11 without issuing a base on balls (3-0).
Game Two
The Raptors again struck quickly, this time touching home three times during the bottom of the first inning. Three consecutive singles to start the frame made it a 1-0 score, and after a sacrifice bunt, two more runners trotted home on a base hit to right field.
Pioneer freshman third baseman
Christopher Liriano (Bergenfield, N.J./Bergenfield) hit a two-out double to center, advanced to third on a failed pickoff attempt and score via a passed ball, making it a 3-1 margin in the top of the second.
A leadoff base on balls, a steal and error, another walk and a sacrifice fly added one more to the Rutgers-Camden total during the home half of the seventh.
WP had the tying run at the plate in the top of the ninth, but a strikeout and double play ended the game.
Liriano finished 1-for-4 with a double and run scored.
Junior
Chris Babb (West Milford, N.J./DePaul Catholic) (1-3) went 5.2 innings, giving up three runs on seven hits and a walk while registering three strikeouts. Sophomore
Kyle Weiner (Wyckoff, N.J./Bergen Catholic) was charged with an unearned run, walking two and striking out one while retiring one batter. Classmate
Zac Polzer (North Haledon, N.J./Passaic County Tech) pitched the final 2.0 shutout scoreless innings and surrendered one hit.
Freshman outfielder Billy Eisler finished 2-for-3 and scored a pair of runs for the Scarlet Raptors. Senior Carter Fichter gave up one unearned run over 7.0 innings as the starter, allowing five hits and two walks while striking out seven (3-1). Sophomore Daniel Beebe earned his first save with 2.0 shutout innings, scattering a hit and walk while posting three punchouts.
William Paterson will visit Staten Island Tuesday, April 3, at 4:00 p.m.
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