WAYNE, N.J. – Host William Paterson (5-1) swept a baseball doubleheader against Immaculata (0-2), 5-2 and 9-5, Feb. 27. Game two was called in the middle of the seventh inning due to darkness.
 
GAME ONE
HOW IT HAPPENED:

• The Mighty Macs used a walk, hit by pitch and RBI-double to take a 1-0 lead during the top of the third inning.
• The Pioneers answered during their next at-bat when junior left fielder Elliott Hayward (Marlton, N.J./Old Bridge) singled to right field and senior third baseman Chris Liriano (Bergenfield, N.J./Bergenfield) followed with a home run over the left-field fence, making it a 2-1 game.
• Immaculata knotted the score at 2-2 in the fifth thanks to a base hit, stolen base and run-scoring double down the right-field line.
• After junior Dan Castaneda (Bergenfield, N.J./Bergenfield) worked out of a second-and-third with one out jam during the top of the seventh, WP seized a 4-2 lead during the home half of the same frame. Liriano hit a hard ground ball that the diving third baseman stopped, but his throw to first was wide, resulting in a hit and two-base error to leadoff. Senior second baseman Colin Lombardo (Edison, N.J./Edison) was hit by a pitch and senior center fielder Justin Grippo (Mahwah, N.J./Mahwah) ripped a ball inside the bag at third and into the left-field corner for a two-run double.
• A Jake Lutz (River Vale, N.J./Pascack Valley Regional) base up the middle and Hayward double to center made it a 5-2 William Paterson edge after eight innings.

 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

• Liriano finished 2-for-4 with a two-run homer, scoring twice himself. Hayward was 2-for-4 with an RBI, and Grippo drove in two runs.
• Senior Riley Weis (River Vale, N.J./Pascack Valley Regional) pitched the first 5.0 innings, allowing two runs on four hits and three walks, registering six strikeouts.
• Castaneda scattered four hits over 2.1 innings of relief, striking out three (1-0). Senior Dan Carter (Bloomfield, N.J./Bloomfield) allowed a walk and two hits during his 1.2 shutout innings, waving three batters for his first save of the year.

 
GAME TWO
HOW IT HAPPENED:

• The Macs had the bases loaded to start their first at-bat, but a groundout double play and later third-out throw to the plate from right field limited the damage to just one Immaculata run scored.
• WP used that momentum, seizing a 2-1 lead during the home half of the first. Lombardo was hit by a pitch and graduate student first baseman Carson Weis (River Vale, N.J./Pascack Valley Regional) singled to left field. A fielder's choice left runners on the corners with one out, and senior right fielder Vinnie Martin (Lodi, N.J./Bergen Catholic) plated two runs with a double to right.
• Hayward was hit by a pitch and Liriano drew a seven-pitch base on balls, setting up a Lombardo three-run homer to center field and a 5-1 advantage after two innings.
• Four more Pioneer runs crossed the plate in the fourth. Weis plated Liriano and Hayward with a base hit up the middle, Martin singled in Lombardo, and Carter doubled in Weis.
• Immaculata added three unearned runs in the top of the fifth, making it a 9-4 margin.
• The Macs strung together two walks, a hit by pitch and a run-scoring single for one final run scored during the top of the seventh inning.

 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

• Martin was 2-for-4 with a double and three RBI, while Lombardo hit a three-run homer. Hayward finished 2-for-2 and chipped in two runs scored and a pair of stolen bases.
• Junior Ian Metzger (Verona, N.J./Verona) surrendered four runs (one earned), five hits and four walks during 4.2 innings as the starter, striking out two while on a pitch count (2-0).
• Senior Matt Lawler (Linwood, N.J./Mainland Regional) went 2.0 scoreless innings, giving up one hit while tallying four strikeouts. Sophomore Pat Warburton (Paramus, N.J./Paramus) was charged with a run, one hit and two walks, and freshman Neel Telidevara (Dayton, N.J./South Brunswick) picked up his first save by striking out the one batter he faced.

 
UP NEXT:

• William Paterson will host No. 23 St. John Fisher for a three-game series next weekend, starting with a doubleheader Saturday, March 5, at 11:30 a.m.

 
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