WAYNE, N.J. - The fourth-seeded William Paterson baseball team (25-13, 12-6 NJAC) will open the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) Tournament Thursday, May 4, in Montclair, N.J., at 5:00 p.m. against third-seeded Montclair State (25-9, 12-6 NJAC).
Live statistics and
live video of the game will be available.
WHERE:
- Yogi Berra Stadium; Ticket prices are $5.00 for adults: $2.00 for children and senior citizens.
- Free tickets will be granted to all William Paterson students who attend the game at Montclair State with a valid WP ID courtesy of student development.
WHAT'S ON THE LINE:
- The six-team tournament uses a double-elimination format, with the opening round of competition being played on the home fields of the top three seeds on May 4.
- The remaining games of the tournament will be played Saturday-Monday, May 6-8, at Kean University.
- The NJAC champion garners an automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Tournament.
- The winner of the WP/Montclair State game will play Saturday, May 6, at 7:00 p.m. at Kean against the winner of Thursday's game between second-seeded Kean (23-15-1, 12-5-1 NJAC) and fifth-seeded The College of New Jersey (19-21, 9-9 NJAC).
- The loser of the WP/Montclair State game will play Saturday, May 6, at 3:30 p.m. at Kean against the winner of Thursday's game between top-seeded 19th-ranked Rowan (28-11, 13-5 NJAC) and sixth-seeded Stockton (22-18, 8-10 NJAC).
WP IN THE NJAC TOURNAMENT:
- WP is making its 36th appearance in the NJAC Tournament (1959, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023), and its 12th trip under the tutelage of 16th-year head coach Mike Lauterhahn.
- The Pioneers are looking for their 14th NJAC Tournament title (1959, 1982, 1983, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2022). A year ago, third-seeded William Paterson made a flawless run through the NJAC Tournament en route to capturing the program's first tournament title in 15 years.
SCOUTING THE PIONEERS:
- William Paterson finished the regular season with a 25-13 overall record and 12-6 mark in NJAC play.
- The Pioneers enter the tournament on a six-game win streak, with the most-recent victory coming on May 1 when William Paterson bested New Jersey City, 15-8, at home.
- Graduate student Steve Yelin (River Edge, N.J./River Dell Regional), a three-time NJAC Player of the Week, has been one of the top hitters in the conference this season, boasting a .453 average, .536 on-base percentage and a .851 slugging percentage. He has a team-best 73 hits, 23 doubles, 13 home runs, 61 runs and 73 RBI.
- Graduate student Colin Lombardo (Edison, N.J./Edison) has been an on-base machine this season in the leadoff spot. He finished the regular season with a team-high .454 batting average, .591 on-base percentage and .691 slugging percentage with 69 hits, 15 doubles, three triples, five home runs, a single-season program-best 77 runs, 28 RBI and 11 stolen bases.
- Graduate student Carson Weis (River Vale, N.J./Pascack Valley Regional) owns a .444 average, .519 on-base percentage and .669 slugging percentage with 67 hits, 20 doubles, four home runs, 67 runs and 44 RBI.
- Graduate student Dan Carter (Bloomfield, N.J./Bloomfield) is the fourth Pioneer batting over .400 as he holds a .430 average with a .526 on-base percentage and .614 slugging percentage. The 2022 NJAC Player of the Year has compiled 68 hits, 12 doubles, five home runs, 68 runs and 52 RBI this season.
SCOUTING THE RED HAWKS:
- Montclair State, who is receiving votes in the latest D3baseball.com poll, finished with an overall record of 25-9 and a 12-6 mark in NJAC play. The Red Hawks enter the tournament on an eight-game win streak.
- The Red Hawks went 15-3 at home this year and have not lost at Yogi Berra Stadium since April 6 when Ramapo bested Montclair State, 6-4.
- Montclair State finished the regular season second in the NJAC in batting average, runs scored and team ERA.
- Senior Sam Angelo is on a 16-game hitting streak and leads the team with a .449 average, .570 on-base percentage and .898 slugging percentage with 57 hits, 17 doubles, 12 home runs, 52 runs and 50 RBI.
- Senior Miles Feaster has logged six consecutive multi-hit outings and carries a .413 average, .456 on-base percentage and .523 slugging percentage into tournament action. He posted a team-high 64 hits during the regular season with 12 doubles, 49 runs and 38 RBI.
LAST TIME THEY MET:
- Montclair State took the regular season series between the two sides after claiming a 9-2 home win on April 20 before securing a 12-8 road victory the following day at Jeff Albies Field.
- In the last postseason meeting, the Pioneers defeated the Red Hawks, 20-9, in the second round of the NJAC Tournament May 8, 2022.
FOLLOW THE PIONEERS:
