PITMAN, N.J. – Fifth-seeded William Paterson (25-14, 10-8 NJAC) will face top-seeded and No. 5/4 Rowan (29-9, 14-4 NJAC) in a New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) Baseball Tournament elimination game Friday, May 3, at 12:00 p.m. at Kean University.
Live statistics and
live video will be available.
WHERE:
Jim Hynes '63 Baseball Stadium; Ticket prices are $5.00 for adults: $2.00 for children, students and senior citizens. WP students with ID will be admitted for free.
WHAT'S ON THE LINE:
- The six-team tournament uses a double-elimination format, with the opening round of competition played on the home fields of the top three seeds on April 30.
- The remaining games of the tournament will be played Friday-Sunday, May 3-5, at Kean University. (Tournament Bracket)
- The NJAC champion garners an automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Tournament.
- The winner of the WP/Rowan game will play again Saturday, May 4. If four teams remain after Friday's play, the WP/Rowan winner will play at 12:00 p.m. Saturday against the loser of Friday's Kean/The College of New Jersey contest. If five teams remain after Friday's play, the WP/Rowan winner will play Saturday at 3:30 p.m. against the winner of Friday's Ramapo/Rutgers-Newark contest.
WP IN THE NJAC TOURNAMENT:
- WP is making its 33rd appearance in the NJAC Tournament (1959, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019), and its ninth trip under the tutelage of 12th-year head coach Mike Lauterhahn.
- The Pioneers are looking for their 13th NJAC Tournament title (1959, 1982, 1983, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997). A year ago, sixth-seeded William Paterson lost 9-0 in the first round at top-seeded TCNJ, and 5-4 to fifth-seeded Kean in the second round.
SCOUTING THE PIONEERS:
- William Paterson saw its five-game win streak snapped by second-seeded Kean (29-12, 14-4 NJAC), 2-1, during the NJAC Tournament opening round April 30.
- The only Pioneer to start all 39 games, sophomore center fielder Steven DiGirolamo (Dumont, N.J./Dumont) was named to the All-NJAC First Team after pacing WP overall with a .421 batting average, 72 hits, 45 runs scored, eight triples, 14 stolen bases and a .474 on-base percentage, adding 12 doubles, 27 RBI and a .585 slugging percentage.
- A member of the All-NJAC Second Team, sophomore catcher Steve Yelin (River Edge, N.J./River Dell Regional) owns a .386 average, .451 on-base percentage, 28 runs and two triples to go along with a team-best 14 doubles, six home runs, 31 RBI and a .634 slugging percentage.
- Junior second baseman Matt Ferrara (Paramus, N.J./Paramus) is hitting .327 with 11 doubles, two home runs, 28 RBI and 31 runs scored while starting 38 times. Junior third baseman Carlos Perez (Hawthorne, N.J./Hawthorne) has started 34 of 35 appearances, compiling a .327 batting average, 13 doubles, three homers, 20 RBI and 24 runs scored.
- Senior Corey Martinez (River Edge, N.J./River Dell Regional) leads the starting rotation with a 6-1 record and 2.44 ERA in 12 appearances and 10 starts, registering 59 strikeouts in 73.2 innings pitched. He was selected to the All-NJAC Honorable Mention, while classmate Eric Rosenberg (Paramus, N.J./Paramus) was named the NJAC Fireman of the Year and has compiled a 6-2 record with a 2.00 ERA this season, starting one of 15 appearances and striking out 41 batters over 36.0 innings while collecting three saves and a .197 opponent batting average.
SCOUTING THE No. 5/4 PROFS:
- Rowan is coming off a 6-4 NJAC Tournament first-round loss to sixth-seeded Rutgers-Newark (16-17, 9-9 NJAC) April 30, and finished in a two-way tie for first place in the conference standings. The Profs have lost two of their last three outings.
- The NJAC Player of the Year, senior outfielder Matt Woods is hitting .442 with 14 doubles, three triples, 12 home runs, 45 RBI, 49 runs scored and an .805 slugging percentage. Junior first baseman Mitch Walker, a member of the All-NJAC First Team, owns a .421 average, 13 doubles, three homers, 29 RBI and 41 runs scored, while first-team all-league senior catcher Steven Hewa is batting .345 with 10 doubles, three home runs, 24 RBI and 30 runs scored.
- Senior Danny Serreino is 4-2 with a 2.18 earned-run average in nine starts, striking out 92 hitters in 53.2 innings to garner a spot on the All-NJAC First Team. Senior Andrew Cartier has made 16 relief appearances, going 1-1 with a 2.89 ERA, seven saves and 26 punchouts in 18.2 innings of work.
LAST TIME THEY MET:
- William Paterson was six outs away from sweeping the No. 5/8 Profs April 13 at Jeff Albies Field, dropping the opener, 10-8, after a late-game Rowan rally before posting an 11-6 win during the night cap.
FOLLOW THE PIONEERS:
