AUBURNDALE, Fla. – The William Paterson baseball team (8-4) swept a seven-inning doubleheader against Roger Williams (1-8), 13-4 and 7-1, March 17 at the RussMatt Central Florida Invitational.
 
GAME ONE
HOW IT HAPPENED:

• The Pioneers seized a 4-0 lead during the top of the first inning. Graduate student second baseman Colin Lombardo (Edison, N.J./Edison) was hit by a one-out pitch, graduate student catcher Steve Yelin (River Edge, N.J./River Dell Regional) homered, graduate student right fielder Dan Carter (Bloomfield, N.J./Bloomfield) singled to right, graduate student first baseman Carson Weis (River Vale, N.J./Pascack Valley Regional) reached on an error, junior center fielder Jake Lutz (River Vale, N.J./Pascack Valley Regional) was hit by a pitch and sophomore shortstop Tyler Ruban (Oak Ridge, N.J./Jefferson Twp.) sent a two-run single to center field.
• A Lombardo base hit, Yelin walk, Carter RBI-single and Weis sacrifice fly made it a 6-0 score in the second.
• The Hawks used three base hits to score three times during the home half of the second.
• Junior left fielder Elliott Hayward (Marlton, N.J./Old Bridge) opened the third inning with a single through the right side, and two batters later sophomore third baseman Tom Radigan (Verona, N.J./Verona) doubled him in for a 7-3 margin.
• Roger Williams added one to its tally during the home half of the fourth, thanks to a walk, stolen base, groundout and base hit.
• WP crossed the plate once in the fifth after a Lutz leadoff walk, wild pitch, Radigan hit by pitch and run-scoring infield single by graduate student designated hitter Steven DiGirolamo (Dumont, N.J./Dumont).
• The Pioneers tacked on three more in the sixth with a Yelin double, Carter base hit, Weis RBI-double, Lutz sac fly and Ruban run-scoring single, making it an 11-4 score.
• Lombardo singled, Carter walked, Weis drove in a run with a base hit and Carter scored on a wild pitch for the game's final two runs during the top of the seventh inning.

 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

• Carter was 3-for-4 with two RBI and three runs scored, and Yelin posted a double, home run, two RBI and three runs. Weis finished 2-for-4 while adding a double, sac fly, two RBI and a pair of runs, and Lombardo collected two hits and three runs scored.
• Senior Darmany Rivas (Bloomfield, N.J./Bloomfield) improved to 4-0 after 5.0 innings of four-run, six-hit ball, walking four and striking out four.
• Freshman Chris Quartuccio (Glen Gardner, N.J./Voorhees) tossed the final 2.0 innings, facing just one batter above the minimum.

 
GAME TWO
HOW IT HAPPENED:

• William Paterson again struck during its first at-bat, this time for three runs. DiGirolamo drew a leadoff walk and stole second before Lombardo was issued a base on balls. Yelin then cleared the bases with his second home run of the day, making it a 3-0 lead during the bottom of the first inning.
• The Pioneers doubled their advantage with a three-run fourth. Ruban singled and was sacrificed to second by sophomore catcher Austin Jack (Oak Ridge, N.J./Jefferson Twp.), followed by a wild pitch, Will Pitt (Bloomingburg, N.Y./Don Bosco Prep) RBI-single, Lombardo infield hit, Yelin intentional walk and two-run Carter single up the middle.
• Carter singled in DiGirolamo, who had doubled, for a 7-0 edge after six innings.
• The Hawks broke up the shutout during their final at-bat with a triple and sac fly in the top of the seventh.

 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

• Carter went 2-for-2 with three RBI, and Yelin hit a three-run homer. Pitt was 2-for-3 with a double, RBI and run scored, and Lombardo finished 2-for-3 while scoring twice.
• Junior Ian Metzger (Verona, N.J./Verona) spun 5.0 shutout innings, scattering 11 hits while collecting three strikeouts (1-1).
• Sophomore Pat Pantoliano (Secaucus, N.J./Secaucus) allowed one run on three hits and three walks while striking out two.

 
UP NEXT:

• William Paterson will finish its stay at the RussMatt Central Florida Invitational Saturday, March 18, with a 9:45 a.m. game against Wisconsin-La Crosse.

 
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