AUBURNDALE, Fla. – The William Paterson baseball team (9-4) was defeated, 20-7, by #RV Eastern Connecticut State (7-3) in seven innings at the RussMatt Invitational March 17. The game was called after seven innings due to the mercy rule. 

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Eastern Connecticut State jumped out to a two-run lead (2-0) in the second inning before tacking on five runs in the third, three in the fourth and five in the fifth to extend the advantage to 15 (15-0).
• In the bottom of the fifth, a leadoff walk by junior Matthew DiGirolamo (Dumont, N.J./Dumont), followed by a pair of errors by the Warrior defense, loaded the bases before a run scored on walk from junior Thomas Jova (Gillette, N.J./Watchung Hills Regional). Senior Connor Luckie (Hamilton, N.J./Hamilton High West) then cleared the bases with a grand slam to make it a 10-run game (15-5).
• The Warriors scored a run with a solo homer in the sixth before pushing the advantage back to 20 (20-5) with a four-run seventh inning.
• In the bottom of the seventh, senior Tyler Ruban (Oak Ridge, N.J./Jefferson Twp.) came up with two outs and the bases loaded and delivered a two-RBI single.  

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

• Luckie recorded his first home run of the season.
• Ruban recorded a pair of RBI.
• Senior Ruven Pino (Fairview, N.J./Bergen Catholic) crossed home twice.

UP NEXT:

• The Pioneers will take on Bard Tuesday, March 18, in a doubleheader slated for 4:00 p.m. in Davenport, Fla.

 
FOLLOW THE PIONEERS:

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