GALLOWAY, N.J. – The William Paterson baseball team (21-9, 7-3 NJAC) scored seven unanswered runs for an 11-6 opening victory, then pulled away late for a 15-1 game-two win at Stockton (13-16-1, 4-6 NJAC) April 16.
GAME ONE
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Senior third baseman Colin Lombardo (Edison, N.J./Edison) opened the game with a double to right-center field and graduate student first baseman Carson Weis (River Vale, N.J./Pascack Valley Regional) launched a home run to left for a 2-0 WP first-inning edge.
- WP added two more in the second when sophomore second baseman Jake Lutz (River Vale, N.J./Pascack Valley Regional) reached on a leadoff error and Lombardo sent a two-out pitch out to left, making it a 4-0 score.
- Stockton got on the scoreboard with four base hits and a balk, scoring three runs during the home half of the second.
- Three singles, a triple and an error allowed the Ospreys to take a 6-4 lead during the bottom of the third inning.
- The Pioneers knotted the game at 6-6 in the seventh. Senior shortstop Chris Liriano (Bergenfield, N.J./Bergenfield) hit a double to center field to lead off, senior left fielder Steve Yelin (River Edge, N.J./River Dell Regional) sent him home with a two-out double down the left-field line, and senior designated hitter Dan Carter (Bloomfield, N.J./Bloomfield) followed with an RBI-single up the middle.
- William Paterson took the lead with a two-run eighth frame. Lutz started the inning with an infield base hit and was sacrificed to second by senior center fielder Justin Grippo (Mahwah, N.J./Mahwah). Liriano's single through the right side left runners on the corners, and Lombardo plated one run with a base hit up the middle. After a flyout, Yelin delivered a two-out single through the left side, giving the Pioneers an 8-6 advantage.
- Senior right fielder Vinnie Martin (Lodi, N.J./Bergen Catholic) was hit by a pitch to open the top of the ninth, and after Lutz later walked, a Grippo fielder's choice left runners on the corners with two outs. Liriano and Lombardo were issued free passes, forcing in a run, and an error allowed two more Pioneers to score to make it an 11-6 margin.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
- Lombardo went 3-for-5 with a double, home run, four RBI and two runs scored.
- Yelin was 3-for-6 while tallying a double, two RBI and a run, and Weis hit a two-run homer.
- Senior starter Riley Weis (River Vale, N.J./Pascack Valley Regional) was charged with six runs (five earned) and 11 hits, registering one strikeout during 3.0 innings of action.
- Junior Dan Castaneda (Bergenfield, N.J./Bergenfield) scattered two hits and three walks over his 4.1 innings while striking out four Ospreys (3-2). Freshman Neel Telidevara (Dayton, N.J./South Brunswick) contributed the final 1.2 shutout innings, striking out one and walking one for his third save of the season.
GAME TWO
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- A triple and sacrifice fly allowed the Ospreys to break the scoreless deadlock during the bottom of the third inning.
- WP scored four in the fourth. Yelin and Carter started the frame with base hits, and after a Martin sacrifice, senior catcher Dylan Habeeb (Wayne, N.J./Wayne Hills) singled in a run and Lutz executed a squeeze play. Grippo's two-run inside the park homer made it a 4-1 score.
- Lombardo was hit by a pitch, Weis sent a double to right center, Yelin hit a sacrifice fly to center and Carter added an RBI-single to left center for a 6-1 edge in the fifth.
- The Pioneers tacked on a pair of eighth-inning runs as Habeeb singled, Grippo reached on an error, Liriano provided a ground-rule RBI-double and Lombardo sac flied to center field.
- WP crossed the plate seven times during their final at-bat, highlighted by a Lutz three-run homer, Weis and Yelin run-scoring singles, and a Carter two-run double.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
- Carter finished 5-for-6 with a double and three RBI. Habeeb went 3-for-3 while adding an RBI and three runs scored.
- Weis, Yelin and Grippo all had multi-hit efforts.
- Junior Ian Metzger (Verona, N.J./Verona) threw the complete game, striking out eight while allowing one run on nine hits and two walks (6-3).
UP NEXT:
- William Paterson visits Scranton Tuesday, April 19, for a 5:00 p.m. game.
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