AUBURNDALE, Fla. – The William Paterson baseball team (6-4) couldn't hold off Clarkson (6-4), dropping a 10-8 decision March 16 at the RussMatt Central Florida Invitational.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:

• The Golden Knights jumped out to a 3-0 edge during their first at-bat, stringing together a leadoff base hit, walk, single, base on balls, hit by pitch and fielder's choice.
• The Pioneers built a 4-3 lead in the home half of the second. Freshman designated hitter Matt Caruso (North Haledon, N.J./Passaic County Technical) started the frame with a single through the left side and senior catcher Christian Peluso (Bridgewater, N.J./Seton Hall Prep) had an infield hit before sophomore center fielder Sean Lauterhahn's (Oradell, N.J./River Dell) squeeze bunt resulted in an RBI-single. Junior second baseman Devin Daproza's (Englewood, N.J./Leonia) base hit loaded the bags, and an error allowed three runners to scamper home, making it a 4-3 game.
• A Clarkson triple and sacrifice fly knotted the score at 4-4 in the third inning, and the Golden Knights plated two more in the fourth thanks to three singles and a hit by pitch.
• WP regained the lead with a four-run fifth. Junior left fielder Stephen Kubis (Wayne, N.J./Wayne Hills), senior third baseman Jordan Brown (Piscataway, N.J./Piscataway) and Caruso were issued walks, loading the bases with one out. Peluso doubled in two runs and sophomore right fielder Jesse Bash (Tenafly, N.J./Tenafly) singled in two more to hand William Paterson an 8-6 edge.
• Clarkson responded during its next at-bat, collecting a double, base hit, hit by pitch, two-run single, double and two-run single to surge ahead by a 10-8 count.
• The Pioneers had the bases loaded with one out during the bottom half of the ninth, but a strikeout and flyout ended WP's comeback hopes.

 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

• Peluso and Bash were both 2-for-5 with two RBI. Peluso added a double and a pair of runs scored.
• Caruso finished 2-for-4 and scored twice, while Daproza was 2-for-4 with a run scored.
• Freshman JT DeRiso (River Vale, N.J./Pascack Valley) made his first start, allowing six runs on six hits and three walks, striking out three during 4.0 innings.
• Sophomore Jayden Villalta (Pompton Lakes, N.J./Pompton Lakes) gave up four hits and four runs over 1.2 innings with one strikeout (1-1). Senior Nick Durso (Morris Plains, N.J./Parsippany Hills) contributed the final 3.1 shutout innings of relief, scattering two hits and three walks with three punchouts.

 
UP NEXT:

• William Paterson plays a seven-inning doubleheader against Coe Tuesday, March 17, at 9:30 a.m. at the RussMatt Central Florida Invitational.

 
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