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UNION, N.J. – A controversial call set up the go-ahead run in the sixth inning as fifth-seeded William Paterson (25-14, 10-8 NJAC) suffered a 2-1 loss at second-seeded Kean (29-12, 14-4 NJAC) April 30 during the first round of the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) Baseball Tournament.
The Pioneers continue play in the six-team, double-elimination tourney Friday, May 3, against top-seeded and No. 5/4 Rowan (29-8, 14-4 NJAC) in an elimination game at 12:00 p.m. at Kean University.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- An error off a ball hit by sophomore center fielder Steven DiGirolamo (Dumont, N.J./Dumont), a single just inside the bag at third by junior second baseman Matt Ferrara (Paramus, N.J./Paramus) and a groundout by sophomore first baseman Carson Weis (River Vale, N.J./Pascack Valley Regional) handed WP a 1-0 edge during the top of the first inning.
- Kean tied the score during the home half of the same frame, thanks to a walk, two wild pitches and an RBI-single through the right side.
- William Paterson had the bases loaded with two outs in the second, a runner on second with one out in the third, and two on with two outs in the sixth, but couldn't come up with a deadlock-breaking play.
- The Cougars were issued a one-out walk in the bottom of the sixth inning, and during the next at-bat the runner was well off first base when a throw was made behind him from the plate. The tag was applied, but after a conference by the umpires, a defensive obstruction call was made at first, and the runner was awarded second base. The same batter then dropped a single into left-center field, scoring the runner from second and giving Kean a 2-1 advantage.
- The Pioneers had another quality opportunity late, but were unable to score a runner from third with two outs in the seventh.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
- Ferrara finished 3-for-4 at the plate, junior third baseman Carlos Perez (Hawthorne, N.J./Hawthorne) was 2-for-3 and sophomore catcher Steve Yelin (River Edge, N.J./River Dell Regional) went 2-for-4.
- Senior Corey Martinez (River Edge, N.J./River Dell Regional) pitched the complete game, allowing two runs (one earned) on five hits and five walks while tallying five strikeouts (6-1).
- The Pioneers left nine runners on base, including five in scoring position.
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