WAYNE, N.J. – The William Paterson baseball team (9-24, 4-10 NJAC) earned a series split with No. 20 Rowan (20-10, 7-7 NJAC) April 20 in a New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) doubleheader at Jeff Albies Field. The Pioneers took game one, 4-2, before falling in game two to the Profs, 8-7.


GAME ONE
HOW IT HAPPENED:

• William Paterson loaded the bases with two outs in the bottom of the second when senior Jake Lutz (River Vale, N.J./Pascack Valley Regional) came through with a two-RBI single through the left side to put the Pioneers ahead, 2-0.
• The Profs cut the deficit in half with an RBI triple in the third inning, but the Pioneers responded in the bottom half of frame with a solo home run to center by junior RJ Mehnert (Wayne, N.J./DePaul Catholic) to go back up by two (3-1).
• William Paterson had two runners in scoring position in the sixth after junior Christian Hay (River Edge, N.J./River Dell Regional) was hit by a pitch and senior Noah Cabassa (Pomona, N.Y./North Rockland) hit a ground-rule double to right. Junior Tom Radigan (Verona, N.J./Verona) drove in Hay with an RBI single to center to push the WP advantage to three (4-1).
• The Profs plated a run in the eighth, but that would be as close as they would get as junior Neel Telidevara (Dayton, N.J./South Brunswick) closed out the final two frames for his first save of the season.

 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

• Mehnert batted 2-for-4 with a home run, an RBI and a run scored.
• Lutz drove in two runs.
• Junior Chase Geisler (Lodi, N.J./Lodi) earned the win after allowing one run and striking out seven in 7.0 innings of work.
• Telidevara pitched two scoreless frames to earn the save.

 
GAME TWO
HOW IT HAPPENED:

• The Profs plated five runs across the first two innings before tacking on one in the fifth to go ahead, 6-0.
• William Paterson got on the board in the bottom of the sixth when Radigan launched a ball over the fence in right field for a solo home run that trimmed the deficit to five (6-1).
• After two outs were recorded, the Pioneers had runners on the corners when junior Tyler Ruban (Oak Ridge, N.J./Jefferson Twp.) tallied an RBI single to make it a four-run game (6-2).
• The Pioneers cut the Rowan lead to two (6-4) once Mehnert hit a two-run home run in the seventh.
• Rowan extended its lead to three (7-4) with a run in the top of the eighth.
• However, the Pioneers stormed back and evened the score in the bottom half of the inning. Radigan drew a base on balls with one out and scored on a Lutz triple to right center. The River Vale, N.J., native came in to score on an Austin Jack (Oak Ridge, N.J./Jefferson Twp.) base hit before freshman Ty Kobylakiewicz (Woodbridge, N.J./Woodbridge) knotted the score at 7-7 with an RBI double to right center.
• The Profs got a run across in the ninth and recorded two quick outs in the bottom of the frame. A pair of two-out singles by Hay and Radigan put two runners on base. Lutz launched a ball to deep center but it was caught at the wall and Rowan escaped with the 8-7 win.

 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

• Radigan finished 3-for-3 at the plate with a home run, three walks, two runs and an RBI.
• Jack and Kobylakiewicz each batted 2-for-5 with a double, an RBI and a run scored.
• Ruban went 2-for-4 with an RBI.
• Lutz crossed home twice and drove in one run.
• Mehnerty tallied a home run, two RBI and a run with two walks.

 
UP NEXT:

• William Paterson will head to Scranton, Pa., Tuesday, April 23, for a non-conference road game against Scranton slated for 4:30 p.m.        

 
FOLLOW THE PIONEERS:

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