WAYNE, N.J. – Six home runs highlighted a 23-hit explosion as the William Paterson baseball team (3-1) defeated visiting Purchase (0-1), 21-2, Feb. 23. The game was ended in the middle of the seventh inning due to darkness.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:

• The Pioneers wasted no time, touching the plate nine times during their first at-bat. Senior left fielder Colin Lombardo (Edison, N.J./Edison) and graduate student first baseman Carson Weis (River Vale, N.J./Pascack Valley Regional) opened the frame with base hits before senior catcher Steve Yelin (River Edge, N.J./River Dell Regional) launched a home run over the scoreboard in left-center field, making it a 3-0 game. Senior pitcher Dan Carter (Bloomfield, N.J./Bloomfield) doubled down the left-field line and junior center fielder Elliott Hayward (Marlton, N.J./Old Bridge) had a two-out single through the right side, setting up a Jake Lutz (River Vale, N.J./Pascack Valley Regional) run-scoring double to left. A two-out error plated Lutz, Lombardo drilled a two-run homer to left center and Yelin doubled in Weis for a 9-0 advantage.
• WP added four more in the second. Carter launched a leadoff home run to center field, senior third baseman Chris Liriano (Bergenfield, N.J./Bergenfield) drew a walk and Lutz sent them both home with a round-tripper over the left-center fence. Lombardo later hit a solo shot to center, his second home run of the day, to push the Pioneers ahead by a 13-0 count.
• Hayward's two-out base hit through the right side drove home Yelin and senior right fielder Vinnie Martin (Lodi, N.J./Bergen Catholic), making it a 16-0 margin after three innings.
• Purchase got on the scoreboard during the top half of the fourth, thanks to a pair of singles, a wild pitch and an RBI-groundout.
• William Paterson posted a pair of runs during the home half of the fourth, as Yelin sent a solo shot to right center and Carter singled in sophomore right fielder Brett Coyle (Sparta, N.J./Sparta).
• The Panthers made it an 18-2 score in the fifth with a walk, groundout and run-scoring double.
• WP tacked on three more in the sixth. Sophomore designated hitter Kevin Minardi (Morris Plains, N.J./Parsippany Hills) had an infield single and junior third baseman David Backo (Wallington, N.J./Wallington) walked, followed by a Ruven Pino (Fairview, N.J./Bergen Catholic) RBI-double, a run-scoring error off the bat of freshman second baseman Tom Radigan (Verona, N.J./Verona) and a Patrick Ryan (Rockaway, N.J./Morris Knolls) run-scoring base hit.

 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

• Yelin went 4-for-4 with two home runs, a double, four RBI and three runs scored. Lutz was 3-for-3 while posting two doubles, a homer and four RBI.
• Lombardo finished 3-for-4, adding two home runs, three RBI and three runs scored.
• Carter tossed 4.0 innings on a pitch count, scattering one run and four hits while posting six strikeouts (1-0). At the plate he was 3-for-4 with a double, homer and two runs scored.
• Junior Tyler Searles (Dumont, N.J./Dumont) allowed one run on two hits and an error with one strikeout in 1.0 inning. Freshman Pat Pantoliano (Secaucus, N.J./Secaucus) walked one and struck out one in 1.0 inning of one-hit action, and classmate Neel Telidevara (Dayton, N.J./South Brunswick) struck out one of the three batters he faced.

 
UP NEXT:

• William Paterson will host Immaculata Saturday, Feb. 26, for a doubleheader beginning at 11:30 a.m.

 
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• http://www.wpupioneers.com/socialmedia