EWING, N.J. – A five-run eighth inning helped the William Paterson baseball team (16-9, 3-3 NJAC) win, 11-3, at The College of New Jersey (11-10, 3-3 NJAC) April 11.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:

• The Pioneers struck twice during their first at-bat. Senior second baseman Colin Lombardo (Edison, N.J./Edison) was hit by a pitch to start the frame, and after a Steve Yelin (River Edge, N.J./River Dell Regional) walk, a lineout and error moved Lombardo to third. Senior designated hitter Dan Carter (Bloomfield, N.J./Bloomfield) singled in one run and junior left fielder Elliott Hayward (Marlton, N.J./Old Bridge) doubled in another, handing WP a 2-0 edge.
• The Lions got one run back during the home half of the first with two walks and three fielder's choices.
• Two errors, a sacrifice and a single tied the game at 2-2 after two innings.
• A Chris Liriano (Bergenfield, N.J./Bergenfield) walk, Justin Grippo (Mahwah, N.J./Mahwah) double and Lombardo walk loaded the bases in the top of the fourth. Graduate student first baseman Carson Weis (River Vale, N.J./Pascack Valley Regional) singled down the left-field line, plating two runners for a 4-2 lead.
• A solo homer cut TCNJ's deficit to 4-3 during the bottom of the fifth inning.
• Carter opened the seventh with a double, advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored when sophomore catcher Jake Lutz (River Vale, N.J./Pascack Valley Regional) got down a squeeze bunt.
• The Pioneers made it a 10-3 margin during the top of the eighth inning. Lombardo walked and stole second, Weis had an infield base hit and senior Dylan Habeeb (Wayne, N.J./Wayne Hills) delivered a pinch-hit RBI-single through the left side. Carter plated a run with a base hit up the middle and Hayward's bunt single scored a run before Liriano's single to center drove two runners home.
• WP added one last run in the ninth when Yelin singled, advanced to second on a Tom Radigan (Verona, N.J./Verona) walk and scored via an error.

 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

• Carter was 5-for-6 while adding a double, two RBI and a pair of runs scored.
• Hayward went 2-for-3 with a double and two RBI, and Weis had a two-hit, two-RBI effort.
• Junior Dan Castaneda (Bergenfield, N.J./Bergenfield) tossed the first 5.0 innings, allowing three runs (two earned) on three hits and two walks, striking out three (2-2).
• Freshman Neel Telidevara (Dayton, N.J./South Brunswick) struck out three during his 2.0 hitless innings. Junior Darmany Rivas (Bloomfield, N.J./Bloomfield) gave up a hit in 2.0 shutout innings while recording two strikeouts.

 
UP NEXT:

• William Paterson hosts Wilkes Tuesday, April 12, at 4:00 p.m.

 
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