WAYNE, N.J. – The William Paterson baseball team (11-5) scored seven times combined during its last two at-bats for an 11-6 victory March 31 against visiting SUNY Cobleskill (4-9).
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:

• The Pioneers struck first with a two-run third inning. Graduate student second baseman Colin Lombardo (Edison, N.J./Edison) was hit by a one-out pitch and stole second, graduate student catcher Steve Yelin (River Edge, N.J./River Dell Regional) singled up the middle to plate Lombardo, Yelin stole second, and graduate student first baseman Carson Weis (River Vale, N.J./Pascack Valley Regional) sent an RBI-double to left-center field.
• The Fighting Tigers jumped ahead 3-2 in the top of the fourth with two walks, a double and a run-scoring single.
• WP made it a 4-3 game in the fifth. Lombardo singled up the middle and stole second before junior center fielder Jake Lutz (River Vale, N.J./Pascack Valley Regional) drew a walk. Yelin doubled in Lombardo, and two batters later Lutz scampered home on a wild pitch.
• William Paterson extended its lead during the home half of the seventh. Lombardo and Lutz started the inning with back-to-back bases on balls. Yelin's single to the left-center gap was bobbled by the center fielder, and the throw to the plate was high, a base hit and two errors that resulted in two runs scored and Yelin standing on second base. Weis promptly followed with a homer to left, his third of the season, and the Pioneers owned an 8-3 advantage.
• A pair of base hits, an RBI-double and a two-run single cut the Pioneers' lead to 8-6 in the top of the eighth.
• WP answered with three scores during its next at-bat. Lombardo led off with an infield base hit, moved to second on a wild pitch and third via a Lutz flyout. Yelin walked and Weis doubled in both runners, then touched home himself when sophomore pinch hitter Ruven Pino (Fairview, N.J./Bergen Catholic) delivered a single up the middle.

 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

• Weis finished 3-for-5 with two doubles, a home run, five RBI and two runs scored. Yelin went 3-for-4 and posted a double, two RBI and three runs, and Lombardo finished 2-for-2 while stealing three bases and scoring four times.
• Sophomore starter Matt Lemieux (Oak Ridge, N.J./Jefferson Twp.) surrendered three runs on four hits and four walks, striking out two during 6.0 innings of action (2-0).
• Classmate Pat Pantoliano (Secaucus, N.J./Secaucus) tossed 2.0 innings and gave up three runs, four hits and a walk, posting three strikeouts. Freshman Chris Quartuccio (Glen Gardner, N.J./Voorhees) pitched a scoreless ninth, walking one batter.

 
UP NEXT:

• William Paterson will start conference play Sunday, April 2, with a doubleheader at No. 10 Rowan. First pitch will be at 11:30 a.m.

 
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