GRANVILLE, OHIO – William Paterson (31-15, 12-6 NJAC) saw its season come to an end during the third round of the NCAA Baseball Tournament Granville Regional as the third-seeded Pioneers fell to second-seeded and seventh-ranked Salisbury (32-9, 6-0 C2C), 17-3, during an elimination game May 22 at Denison's Big Red Baseball Field.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- The defending national champions scored once during the top of the first inning, thanks to a base hit, walk and RBI-single.
- The Sea Gulls took advantage of four hits and three Pioneer errors to score seven unearned runs in the second, building an 8-0 lead.
- WP fought back for two runs during the home half of the second. Senior designated hitter Dylan Habeeb (Wayne, N.J./Wayne Hills) drew a leadoff walk, advanced to second on a one-out wild pitch and scored when senior catcher Steve Yelin (River Edge, N.J./River Dell Regional) tripled to left center. Sophomore second baseman Jake Lutz (River Vale, N.J./Pascack Valley Regional) followed with a run-scoring single to right, cutting the deficit to 8-2.
- A sacrifice fly added one Salisbury run in the third, and the Gulls crossed the plate three times during the fifth with a solo homer, base hit and two doubles.
- A two-run homer made it a 14-2 Sea Gull advantage after six frames.
- Salisbury tacked three more in the seventh, stringing together four hits and an error.
- Consecutive doubles by Lutz and senior center fielder Justin Grippo (Mahwah, N.J./Mahwah) added one Pioneer run in the seventh, 17-3.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
- Yelin was 2-for-4 with a triple, RBI and run scored, and Lutz finished 2-for-4 with a double, RBI and run.
- Senior Matt Lawler (Linwood, N.J./Mainland Regional) pitched the first 4.1 innings and surrendered nine hits, 10 runs (three earned) and five walks while striking out two (5-3).
- Freshman Neel Telidevara (Dayton, N.J./South Brunswick) worked 1.2 innings and allowed four runs on five hits and a walk with one strikeout. Freshman Pat Pantoliano (Secaucus, N.J./Secaucus) gave up three runs (two earned) and four hits during 1.0 inning of relief.
- Senior Jordan Manne (Mahwah, N.J./Mahwah) tossed 1.1 shutout innings, walking one and striking out one with one hit allowed. Graduate student Jason Rivera (Clifton, N.J./Clifton) faced one batter and got a groundball double play.
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