AUBURNDALE, FLA. – The William Paterson baseball team (8-4) brought the tying run to the plate during their final two at-bats, but the Pioneers fell short during a 10-8 decision against undefeated Roger Williams (6-0) March 15 at the RussMatt Central Florida Invitational.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:

• The Hawks seized a 7-0 lead during the top of the first inning, hitting for the cycle as part of a five-hit, three-walk outburst.
• The Pioneers got two runs back during the home half of the frame, thanks to a leadoff base on balls by senior second baseman Colin Lombardo (Edison, N.J./Edison), a single to center by senior catcher Steve Yelin (River Edge, N.J./River Dell Regional) and a two-run hit down the right-field line by senior pitcher/designated hitter Dan Carter (Bloomfield, N.J./Bloomfield).
• Senior third baseman Chris Liriano (Bergenfield, N.J./Bergenfield) opened the bottom of the second with a hit by pitch and Lombardo doubled, followed by a two-RBI double off the bat of graduate student first baseman Carson Weis (River Vale, N.J./Pascack Valley Regional).
• Senior center fielder Justin Grippo (Mahwah, N.J./Mahwah) homered to left field, making it a 7-5 game after six innings.
• A bases-loaded walk, a run-scoring single and a sac fly added three more RWU runs in the eighth.
• Junior left fielder Elliott Hayward (Marlton, N.J./Old Bridge) walked and Liriano was hit by a pitch before junior shortstop Jake Lutz (River Vale, N.J./Pascack Valley Regional) laced a two-run triple down the right-field line. Grippo immediately followed with an RBI-single to shortstop, pulling WP to within two at 10-8. Lombardo's base hit put two runners aboard with one out, but a double play ended the home half of the eighth.
• A double play early in the ninth was followed by a Carter base hit, but a final strikeout ended the WP threat and the game.

 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

• Grippo finished 2-for-3 with a homer and two RBI.
• Weis, Carter and Lutz each contributed two RBI.
• Carter was charged with seven runs allowed on five hits and three walks, striking out one during 0.1 inning as the starter (1-1).
• Senior Matt Lawler (Linwood, N.J./Mainland Regional) tossed 7.0 innings of relief, giving up three hits, three runs and five walks while registering seven strikeouts. Freshman Pat Pantoliano (Secaucus, N.J./Secaucus) worked the final 1.2 scoreless innings, giving up one hit.

 
UP NEXT:

• William Paterson takes on Western New England Wednesday, March 16, at 2:30 p.m. at the RussMatt Central Florida Invitational.

 
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