WAYNE, N.J. – William Paterson (24-13, 11-6 NJAC) won its baseball opener April 30 against New Jersey City (12-26, 2-15 NJAC), 9-3, but game two of the doubleheader was unable to be started due to inclement weather.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- The Pioneers put three on the scoreboard during their first at-bat. Graduate student second baseman Colin Lombardo (Edison, N.J./Edison) started the frame with a single up the middle, and graduate student catcher Steve Yelin (River Edge, N.J./River Dell Regional) sent a ground ball through the left side that was bobbled by the left fielder, leaving runners on second and third. Graduate student first baseman Carson Weis (River Vale, N.J./Pascack Valley Regional) was hit by a pitch to load the bases, followed by an infield RBI-single for graduate student right fielder Dan Carter (Bloomfield, N.J./Bloomfield) and sacrifice flies by junior center fielder Jake Lutz (River Vale, N.J./Pascack Valley Regional) and sophomore shortstop Tyler Ruban (Oak Ridge, N.J./Jefferson Twp.) for a 3-0 lead.
- WP added three more in the fourth. Junior left fielder Noah Cabassa (Pomona, N.Y./North Rockland) was hit by a pitch and sophomore designated hitter Austin Jack (Oak Ridge, N.J./Jefferson Twp.) singled to right before Lombardo tripled them both in. A dropped popup allowed Lombardo to touch the plate and make it a 6-0 advantage.
- The Gothic Knights got two of those runs back in the top of the sixth with three base hits and a sac fly.
- William Paterson scored three times during the home half of the eighth thanks to a walk for graduate student pinch hitter Steven DiGirolamo (Dumont, N.J./Dumont), a run-scoring double by Jack, a Lombardo base hit to right field, an RBI-groundout by Yelin and a run-scoring single to left by Carter.
- NJCU added one ninth-inning run with a two-out hit by pitch, walk, error and wild pitch.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
- Lombardo went 3-for-4 with a triple, two RBI and three runs scored. Carter was 3-for-5 while driving in two runs, and Jack finished 2-for-3 with a double, RBI and two runs.
- Senior Darmany Rivas (Bloomfield, N.J./Bloomfield) worked 8.0 innings and was charged with two runs, eight hits and a walk, posting six strikeouts (6-2).
- Senior Dan Castaneda (Bergenfield, N.J./Bergenfield) gave up an unearned run, a hit and a walk with one strikeout in 0.2 inning. Sophomore Pat Pantoliano (Secaucus, N.J./Secaucus) recorded the final out.
UP NEXT:
- William Paterson and New Jersey City will play the second game of the doubleheader Monday, May 1, at a time and location to be announced.
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