WAYNE, N.J. – Senior left fielder
Dan Carter's (Bloomfield, N.J./Bloomfield) grand slam in the bottom of the ninth inning gave the William Paterson baseball team (24-12, 10-5 NJAC) a 10-9 victory against visiting Ramapo (14-20-1, 5-10 NJAC) April 28, securing a spot in the upcoming New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) Tournament in the process.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- The Roadrunners put three runs on the scoreboard during their first at-bat with a hit by pitch, two singles, a sacrifice fly and a two-run double.
- Ramapo added a solo homer in the fourth for a 4-0 lead.
- The Pioneers got one run back in the fifth thanks to a leadoff double down the right-field line by senior right fielder Vinnie Martin (Lodi, N.J./Bergen Catholic), a base hit to center by senior designated hitter Steve Yelin (River Edge, N.J./River Dell Regional) and an RBI-single to left by Carter.
- A leadoff home run made it a 5-1 Roadrunner advantage during the top of the sixth inning.
- WP crossed the plate twice during the home half of the sixth. Senior center fielder Justin Grippo (Mahwah, N.J./Mahwah) led off with an infield single, then advanced to second via a balk. After a flyout, senior third baseman Colin Lombardo (Edison, N.J./Edison) tripled into the left-field corner and Martin dropped an RBI-single into center for a 5-3 game.
- A pair of doubles produced one Roadrunner tally in the top of the seventh inning.
- The Pioneers pulled to within, 6-5, during the home half of the seventh. Graduate student first baseman Carson Weis (River Vale, N.J./Pascack Valley Regional) started the inning with a double to left, followed by a flyout, a wind and sun-aided RBI-double to shallow center field off the bat of freshman shortstop Tom Radigan (Verona, N.J./Verona), and a Lombardo run-scoring triple to left.
- WP tied the game in the eighth, using a Yelin double, Carter groundout and bouncing single up the middle by senior catcher Dylan Habeeb (Wayne, N.J./Wayne Hills).
- Ramapo answered with a three-run ninth, stringing together a single, error, two-run triple and wild pitch for a 9-6 lead.
- Lombardo drew a seven-pitch walk to start the home half of the ninth, Martin singled to right center and Yelin was issued a free pass, loading the bases. Carter launched a 2-1 pitch to right-center field for the walk-off grand slam.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
- Carter finished 3-for-6 with five RBI. Martin went 3-for-5 with a double, RBI and two runs scored, and Lombardo was 2-for-4 with a pair of triples, two RBI and two runs.
- Senior starter Riley Weis (River Vale, N.J./Pascack Valley Regional) tossed the first 3.0 innings, surrendering three runs on five hits, striking out three.
- Junior Dan Castaneda (Bergenfield, N.J./Bergenfield) allowed five hits and three runs, striking out two during his 3.2 innings. Freshman Neel Telidevara (Dayton, N.J./South Brunswick) worked 1.2 innings and gave up three runs (one earned) and two hits with one punchout. Junior Darmany Rivas (Bloomfield, N.J./Bloomfield) recorded two outs, one on strikes (1-1).
- With the victory, the Pioneers clinched a top-four seed for the NJAC Tournament. Three regular-season games remain before the top three seeds will host opening-round games Tuesday, May 3, of the six-team, double-elimination tourney.
UP NEXT:
- William Paterson plays at Ramapo Friday, April 29, at 3:30 p .m.
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