AUBURNDALE, Fla. – Despite trailing late, the William Paterson baseball team (5-1) plated five runs in the eighth inning to edge Salve Regina (3-3), 11-10, at the RussMatt Central Florida Invitational March 12.


HOW IT HAPPENED:

• The Pioneers jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the first inning. Graduate student Colin Lombardo (Edison, N.J./Edison) drew a leadoff walk and worked his way over to third after a base hit by junior Jake Lutz (River Vale, N.J./Pascack Valley Regional). Lombardo scored on an RBI single to right by senior Steve Yelin (River Edge, N.J./River Dell Regional) before Lutz later crossed home on a wild pitch.
• Salve Regina evened the score in the bottom half of the frame following back-to-back extra-base hits and a sacrifice fly.
• The Seahawks went on to plate four runs in the bottom of the third to grab a 6-2 advantage.
• It remained a four-run game until the sixth when Yelin recorded a leadoff single before scoring on a two-out RBI infield hit from sophomore Tyler Ruban (Oak Ridge, N.J./Jefferson Twp.) to trim the deficit to three (6-3).
• In the seventh, graduate student Steven DiGirolamo (Dumont, N.J./Dumont) and Lombardo both reached safely to set up Lutz for a three-run home run to tie the game.
• Despite Salve Regina retaking the lead with two runs in the bottom of the seventh, the William Paterson offense countered immediately. Three one-out walks loaded the bases before Lutz ripped an RBI single to left. Yelin then blasted a two-RBI double to left before senior Dan Carter (Bloomfield, N.J./Bloomfield) plated one on an RBI two-bagger to right center to put the Pioneers ahead, 11-8.
• Salve Regina got one run back in the eighth and later made it a one-run game (11-10) in the ninth off a one-out double. However, sophomore Neel Telidevara (Dayton, N.J./South Brunswick) closed the door with back-to-back outs to earn the save and secure the victory.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

• Lutz belted his second homer of the season and finished 3-for-4 at the plate with three runs scored and two RBI.
• Yelin logged a three-hit outing with a double, three RBI and two runs scored.
• Carter drove in a pair of runs on a double for his lone hit of the afternoon.
• Sophomore Jude Zern (Wyckoff, N.J./St. Joseph Regional) recorded his first win on the mound.
• Telidevara earned his first save of the season.
• William Paterson recorded double-digit hits in a game for the fourth time this season.

 
UP NEXT:

• The Pioneers return to action at the RussMatt Central Florida Invitational on Monday, March 13, for a 9:30 a.m. game against College of St. Scholastica in Davenport, Fla.

 
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