WAYNE, N.J. – After a combined 52 runs and 6:20 of game action, the No. 22 William Paterson baseball team (16-3, 7-1 NJAC) completed a sweep of New Jersey City (3-16, 1-7 NJAC), 14-3 and 22-13, April 16.
The Pioneers were the home team for the first game, and the visiting team for the second game, during a doubleheader at Jeff Albies Field that featured two bouts of hail as well as numerous rounds of rain showers.
GAME ONE
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- The Pioneers plated six runners during their first at-bat. Senior center fielder Steven DiGirolamo (Dumont, N.J./Dumont) and senior shortstop Matt Ferrara (Paramus, N.J./Paramus) were both issued walks, and senior catcher Dylan Habeeb (Wayne, N.J./Wayne Hills) singled in a run with a ball hit through the left side. After a fielder's choice, senior first baseman Carson Weis (River Vale, N.J./Pascack Valley Regional) drilled an RBI-double to left-center field and senior left fielder Frankie Deane (Dumont, N.J./Dumont) drove in a run with an infield base hit for a 3-0 score. Junior right fielder Adrian Alarcon (Belleville, N.J./Belleville) drew a four-pitch walk to load the bases for junior third baseman Chris Liriano (Bergenfield, N.J./Bergenfield), who dropped a run-scoring single into left field. Junior second baseman Colin Lombardo (Edison, N.J./Edison) lifted a sacrifice fly to center that scored Deane, and a throwing error on Alarcon's advance to third allowed him to touch home and make it a 6-0 margin.
- WP added to its advantage during the home half of the second inning with a Habeeb base hit to center and a home run over the left-center fence by junior designated hitter Steve Yelin (River Edge, N.J./River Dell Regional).
- A base hit/error play and a single to left field plated the Gothic Knights' first run of the game, making it an 8-1 score in the third.
- William Paterson added three more runs during the bottom half of the third, extending its lead to 11-1. Liriano was hit by a pitch and stole second before DiGirolamo walked. After a flyout, Habeeb doubled in one run and Yelin doubled in two more.
- The Pioneers used a pair of two-out walks to Habeeb and Yelin and a Weis RBI-single to make it a 12-1 game after five frames.
- An Alarcon walk was followed by a Liriano triple to right field and a Lombardo run-scoring groundout, adding two more runs in the sixth.
- The Gothic Knights posted a two-run eighth inning thanks to a base on balls, double, triple and error.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
- Habeeb went 3-for-5 with a double, two RBI and four runs scored, and Yelin was 2-for-4 while posting a double, homer, four RBI and two runs.
- Weis, Liriano and Lombardo each drove in a pair of runners.
- Junior Jordan Manne (Mahwah, N.J./Mahwah) tossed 8.0 innings, allowing three runs (two earned) on six hits and three walks while striking out three (1-2). Freshman Pat Warburton (Paramus, N.J./Paramus) struck out two and walked one during the ninth inning.
GAME TWO
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- WP opened up a 3-0 edge during the top half of the first inning. DiGirolamo led off with a solo homer to right-center field, and a Habeeb double and Yelin single put runners on the corners with one out. Yelin stole second before a strikeout, followed by run-scoring base hits off the bats of Deane and Alarcon.
- NJCU got two of those runs back during their first at-bat with a double and pair of singles, then tied the game at 3-3 in the second via a base on balls and two groundouts.
- The Pioneers re-took the lead with an eight-run top of the third inning. Habeeb and Yelin opened the frame with hit by pitches, and after a pair of flyouts, Alarcon and Liriano each plated a runner with a base hit. Lombardo was hit by a pitch to load the bases, and a wild pitch allowed Alarcon to scamper home. DiGirolamo drew a walk, Ferrara doubled in two runs, Habeeb doubled in two more and Yelin doubled in Habeeb, pushing it to an 11-3 edge.
- The Gothic Knights strung together a solo homer, base hit, stolen base, double and triple for a three-run third.
- William Paterson tacked on four more in the fourth thanks to a two-out Liriano walk and steal, Lombardo RBI-single and steal, DiGirolamo base hit and Ferrara three-run home run to left, making it a 15-6 score.
- Ferrara doubled home Alarcon and DiGirolamo, and Habeeb delivered Ferrara with a base hit through the right side, for an 18-6 margin in the middle of the sixth frame.
- Three walks and a pair of doubles sent home four runners for New Jersey City during the bottom of the seventh inning.
- The Pioneers touched the plate four times in the eighth with a leadoff DiGirolamo single, Habeeb RBI-triple, Yelin run-scoring double, Weis base hit, Deane RBI-single and Alarcon run-scoring double, expanding the advantage to 22-10.
- A pair of walks, a two-run single and an RBI-double added three to the NJCU ledger during the bottom of the eighth frame.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
- Ferrara contributed two doubles, a home run, seven RBI and three runs scored. Habeeb finished 4-for-5 with a pair of doubles, a triple, four RBI and four runs scored.
- DiGirolamo went 4-for-5 while adding a homer and five runs, and Yelin was 4-for-5 with two doubles, a pair of RBI and three runs scored.
- Sophomore Darmany Rivas (Bloomfield, N.J./Bloomfield) improved to 4-0 after tossing 5.0 innings, surrendering six runs on seven hits and three walks, striking out six.
- Junior Tyler Searles (Dumont, N.J./Dumont) allowed three hits, four runs and three walks with two punchouts during his 2.0 innings of action, and freshman James Longstreet (Cape May Court House, N.J./Cape May Tech) gave up three runs on two hits and a pair of walks in 1.0 inning. Senior Kyle Weiner (Wyckoff, N.J./Bergen Catholic) pitched 1.0 scoreless inning, scattering a hit and a walk while striking out one.
UP NEXT:
- No. 22 William Paterson travels to Glassboro to play a doubleheader at No. 17 Rowan Saturday, April 17, at 11:30 a.m.
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