William Paterson University Athletics

WAYNE, N.J. – Eight of the Pioneers' 13 hits were for extra bases as the William Paterson baseball team (1-0) opened its 2022 season with a 12-2 victory against Stevens (2-1) Feb. 19.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:

• The Pioneers opened the scoring with a four-run second inning. Senior right fielder Vinnie Martin (Lodi, N.J./Bergen Catholic) opened with a double to left-center field and senior catcher Dylan Habeeb (Wayne, N.J./Wayne Hills) followed with a walk, and after a wild pitch and two strikeouts, senior third baseman Chris Liriano (Bergenfield, N.J./Bergenfield) was issued a base on balls to load the bags. A wild pitch plated Martin, sophomore shortstop Jake Lutz (River Vale, N.J./Pascack Valley Regional) doubled in a pair of runners, and a two-out error sent Lutz home.
• WP tacked on six more in the third. Senior center fielder Justin Grippo (Mahwah, N.J./Mahwah) doubled down the left-field line and senior left fielder Steve Yelin (River Edge, N.J./River Dell Regional) promptly drove him in with an RBI-single to left. Martin's base hit up the middle left runners on the corners, Habeeb doubled in one run, and senior designated hitter Dan Carter (Bloomfield, N.J./Bloomfield) drilled a three-run homer over the left-field fence. Graduate student first baseman Carson Weis (River Vale, N.J./Pascack Valley Regional) drew a walk, and three batters later senior second baseman Colin Lombardo (Edison, N.J./Edison) doubled to right-center field for a 10-0 lead.
• A two-out Habeeb infield single and Carter triple down the right-field line pushed William Paterson's advantage to 11-0 after four innings.
• The Ducks got on the scoreboard during the top half of the sixth inning, using a walk, triple and sacrifice fly for a pair of runs.
• Yelin's homer to left made it a 12-2 score in the bottom of the sixth.

 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

• Carter finished 2-for-3 with a triple, homer and four RBI. Yelin went 2-for-4 while posting a homer, two RBI and pair of runs scored.
• Habeeb had a 2-for-3 effort, double, RBI and three runs scored, and Martin went 2-for-5 while hitting a double and touching home twice.
• Senior starter Riley Weis (River Vale, N.J./Pascack Valley Regional) faced one batter in the sixth, allowing one hit and three walks while striking out six (1-0). He was charged with one run allowed during 5.0 innings pitched.
• Graduate student Jason Rivera (Clifton, N.J./Clifton) surrendered one run on three hits, striking out one during 1.0 inning of action. Freshman Nick Durso (Morris Plains, N.J./Parsippany Hills) made his collegiate debut, walking one and striking out one in 1.0 inning. Rookie Neel Telidevara (Dayton, N.J./South Brunswick) retired all three batters he faced, and junior Dan Castaneda (Bergenfield, N.J./Bergenfield) had a strikeout and hit allowed while pitching the ninth.

 
UP NEXT:

• William Paterson will play a doubleheader at Stevens Monday, Feb. 21, at 1:00 p.m.

 
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