DAVENPORT, Fla. – The William Paterson baseball team (8-5) ended its stay at the RussMatt Central Florida Invitational with a 9-7 loss to Wisconsin-La Crosse (3-2) March 18.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:

• The Pioneers built a 2-0 lead during the home half of the first inning via a leadoff walk to graduate student second baseman Colin Lombardo (Edison, N.J./Edison), a double by graduate student designated hitter Steven DiGirolamo (Dumont, N.J./Dumont) and a two-run double by graduate student right fielder Steve Yelin (River Edge, N.J./River Dell Regional).
• The Eagles got one run back with a bases-loaded sacrifice fly in the top of the third.
• A double, wild pitch and infield single leveled the score at 2-2 in the fourth, and UW-La Crosse pulled ahead in the fifth with a triple and sac fly.
• Sophomore catcher Christian Hay (River Edge, N.J./River Dell Regional) reached on a one-out fielder's choice during the bottom of the fifth inning, and after a Will Pitt (Bloomingburg, N.Y./Don Bosco Prep) walk and Lombardo single, he scored on DiGirolamo's grounder for a 3-3 score.
• Graduate student left fielder Dan Carter (Bloomfield, N.J./Bloomfield) and graduate student pinch hitter Carson Weis (River Vale, N.J./Pascack Valley Regional) strung together a pair of doubles for a 4-3 WP lead after six innings.
• Five runs on three homers gave Wisconsin-La Crosse an 8-4 advantage in the seventh.
• Pitt doubled and Lombardo sent a home run to right, making it an 8-6 game during the home half of the seventh.
• The Eagles tacked on a run in the eighth via a base hit, error and wild pitch.
• Yelin was hit by a bases-loaded offering, making it a 9-7 margin in the eighth.

 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

• Lombardo finished 2-for-3 with a home run, two RBI and a pair of runs scored. Carter went 2-for-5 while adding a double and run.
• Graduate student Matt Lawler (Linwood, N.J./Mainland Regional) pitched the first 5.1 innings, giving up three runs on six hits and three walks with six strikeouts.
• Senior Dan Castaneda (Bergenfield, N.J./Bergenfield) was charged with five runs and five hits, striking out one (0-1). Sophomore Neel Telidevara (Dayton, N.J./South Brunswick) gave up a run and a hit over 1.2 innings, and junior Nick Nielson (Avenel, N.J./Colonia) struck out three and allowed a hit during 1.0 inning of relief.

 
UP NEXT:

• William Paterson will host Keystone Thursday, March 23, at 3:30 p.m.

 
FOLLOW THE PIONEERS:

• http://www.wpupioneers.com/socialmedia