NEWARK, N.J. – In a game that ended six hours after it started due to a lengthy weather delay, the William Paterson baseball team (18-9, 4-3 NJAC) registered an 11-2 victory at Rutgers-Newark (12-11, 1-5 NJAC) April 14.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:

• The Pioneers jumped out to a 2-0 first-inning lead when graduate student first baseman Carson Weis (River Vale, N.J./Pascack Valley Regional) and senior catcher Steve Yelin (River Edge, N.J./River Dell Regional) singled to center, followed by a two-run double to left by senior left fielder Dan Carter (Bloomfield, N.J./Bloomfield).
• The Scarlet Raiders tied the score at 2-2 during their first at-bat with a two-out run-scoring double and single.
• WP made it a 5-2 game in the second with a base hit by senior right fielder Vinnie Martin (Lodi, N.J./Bergen Catholic), a two-run homer by senior third baseman Colin Lombardo (Edison, N.J./Edison), a Weis walk, a wild pitch and a run-scoring error.
• Junior center fielder Elliott Hayward (Marlton, N.J./Old Bridge) reached base during the top of the third inning on a bunt single and sophomore second baseman Jake Lutz (River Vale, N.J./Pascack Valley Regional) promptly homered, creating a 7-2 margin.
• Three straight base hits by Hayward, Lutz and Martin tacked on one run in the fifth.
• Lutz and Martin singled in the seventh, and Martin's stolen base left runners on second and third. Lutz touched home on a pickoff of Martin, extending the lead to 9-2.
• Carter was hit by a pitch to start the top half of the ninth and was lifted for sophomore pinch runner Brett Coyle (Sparta, N.J./Sparta). Consecutive base hits by Hayward and Lutz scored one run, and a wild pitch plated a second, push the advantage to 11-2.

 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

• Lutz was 4-for-5 with a home run, three RBI and two runs scored. Hayward went 4-for-5 and scored three times.
• Senior Matt Lawler (Linwood, N.J./Mainland Regional) worked 6.0 innings and gave up two runs (one earned) and four hits while striking out six (3-0).
• Freshman Pat Pantoliano (Secaucus, N.J./Secaucus) spun 2.0 shutout innings and scattered one hit and a walk while striking out two. Senior Justin Grippo (Mahwah, N.J./Mahwah) struck out two of the three batters he faced during the ninth.

 
UP NEXT:

• William Paterson hosts the Scarlet Raiders Friday, April 15, at 3:30 p.m.

 
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