WAYNE, N.J. – The William Paterson baseball team (11-27, 6-12 NJAC) celebrated Senior Day with a 7-12, 7-3 doubleheader split against Rutgers-Camden (26-13, 11-7 NJAC) during the Pioneers' season finale April 27.
GAME ONE
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- A bases-loaded double and a safety squeeze handed the Scarlet Raptors a 4-0 edge during the top of the fourth inning.
- The Pioneers got three of those runs back during the home half of the same inning. Junior catcher Austin Jack (Oak Ridge, N.J./Jefferson Twp.) singled through the left side and senior left fielder Noah Cabassa (Pomona, N.Y./North Rockland) walked before senior center fielder Jake Lutz (River Vale, N.J./Pascack Valley Regional) blasted a home run to left.
- A two-run homer made it a 6-3 game in the top of the fifth.
- WP jumped ahead by a 7-6 count in the sixth. Junior third baseman Tyler Ruban (Oak Ridge, N.J./Jefferson Twp.) was hit by a pitch, then advanced to third on a failed pickoff attempt. After a strikeout, Jack doubled in the runner, then he moved to third via a passed ball. Cabassa was hit by a pitch and Lutz walked, loading the bases for junior shortstop Tom Radigan (Verona, N.J./Verona), who delivered an RBI-groundout. The tying run crossed home thanks to a wild pitch, and freshman first baseman Ty Kobylakiewicz (Woodbridge, N.J./Woodbridge) handed the Pioneers the lead with a run-scoring single up the middle.
- Rutgers-Camden answered with a two-run seventh, stringing together an error, two walks and a base hit for an 8-7 edge.
- The Scarlet Raptors tacked one on in the eighth with a single and double, then produced three in the ninth on a walk, double, fielder's choice, squeeze bunt, double and base hit.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
- Lutz was 2-for-3 with a homer, three RBI and two runs scored.
- Jack went 2-for-4 and added a double, RBI and two runs.
- Junior Chase Geisler (Lodi, N.J./Lodi) surrendered six runs on six hits and two walks, striking out one batter in 5.2 innings.
- Junior Neel Telidevara (Dayton, N.J./South Brunswick) gave up one hit, two runs (one earned) and three walks in 0.1 inning of relief (0-2).
- Junior Nick Diaz (Hamilton, N.J./Hamilton High West) worked 1.0 inning of one-run ball, allowing a hit and striking out one.
- Junior Nick Estes (Rahway, N.J./St. Joseph Metuchen) tossed 1.0 inning and surrendered one hit.
- Freshman Kevin Reiner (Maywood, N.J./Hackensack) was charged with three runs, two hits and a walk over 0.2 inning.
- Sophomore Cole McGregor (British Colombia, Canada/Delta Secondary School) pitched 0.1 inning and gave up two hits.
GAME TWO
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Rutgers-Camden seized a 1-0 lead in the third after a single, failed pickoff and sac fly.
- The Pioneers matched the score during their next at-bat, using a single by junior right fielder Gio Aresta, a walk by junior second baseman Ruven Pino (Fairview, N.J./Bergen Catholic), a sacrifice bunt by Radigan and a sac fly by Lutz.
- WP built a 3-1 advantage in the fourth, thanks to a Christian Hay (River Edge, N.J./River Dell Regional) single to center, a Jack double to left and a two-run Aresta base hit into center field.
- Junior designated hitter RJ Mehnert's (Wayne, N.J./DePaul Catholic) solo shot to center pushed the lead to 4-1 after five frames.
- A bases-loaded hit by pitch forced across a Rutgers-Camden run in the sixth, 4-2.
- Mehnert's second homer of the game extended the lead to 5-2 after seven innings.
- The Scarlet Raptors hit a solo home run of their own during the top of the eighth inning.
- WP crossed home twice during the home half of the eighth. Pino singled to right center, Radigan walked and Lutz sent an RBI-single through the left side. Kobylakiewicz's base hit to center made it a 7-3 game.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
- Mehnert was 2-for-5 with two home runs.
- Aresta finished 2-for-4 while adding two RBI and a run scored, and Lutz went 1-for-3 and contributed two RBI.
- Freshman Robert Nathan (Lords Valley, Pa./Vernon Twp.) went 5.0 innings, scattering two runs (one earned) and four hits while striking out five (3-3).
- Senior Darmany Rivas (Bloomfield, N.J./Bloomfield) scattered one run and five hits over 4.0 innings, walking one and striking out six to earn his first save of the year.
- Following the doubleheader, the Pioneers honored their seven seniors – Cabassa, Dan Castaneda (Bergenfield, N.J./Bergenfield), Lutz, Elian Mendez (Hackensack, N.J./Hackensack), Ian Metzger (Verona, N.J./Verona), Nick Nielson (Avenel, N.J./Colonia) and Rivas.
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