WAYNE, N.J. – The William Paterson baseball team (4-2) split a twin bill with visiting Scranton (5-3) March 7, taking the opener by a 9-8 count during the nine-inning opener, and falling 9-7 during the seven-inning night cap.
 
GAME ONE
HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Two singles, a hit by pitch, a bases-loaded walk and a two-run double handled the Royals a 3-0 first-inning edge.
• The Pioneers answered with four runs during their first at-bat. Junior second baseman Devin Daproza (Englewood, N.J./Leonia) led off with a walk, followed by a groundout, base on balls for senior third baseman Angel Colon (Hawthorne, N.J./St. Joseph's Regional), and RBI-single for junior first baseman Ty Kobylakiewicz (Woodbridge, N.J./Woodbridge). Junior left fielder Stephen Kubis (Wayne, N.J./Wayne Hills) singled in Colon, senior designated hitter Steven Peralta (Paterson, N.J./Passaic County Technical) delivered Kobylakiewicz with a base hit to right, and senior catcher Christian Peluso (Bridgewater, N.J./Seton Hall Prep) plated Kubis with an infield single.
• Scranton tied the score at 4-4 in the second after a double, bunt single and sacrifice fly, then tacked on two more during the top of the third via a base hit, failed pickoff, RBI-groundout, triple and single.
• WP surged ahead with a three-run fourth. Daproza reached on a one-out base hit through the right side, senior shortstop Dylan Santos (Nutley, N.J./Nutley) singled to third, and Colon was hit by a pitch, loading the bases. Following a strikeout, Kubis singled in two runners and Peralta plated one with a base hit, making it a 7-6 game.
• Scranton again knotted the score, this time at 7-7 during the top half of the sixth, thanks to a double, walk and base hit.
• Colon opened the home half of the sixth inning with a hit by pitch and wild pitch. Kobylakiewicz's single was thrown away, allowing Colon to scamper home, and two batters later Peralta lifted a sac fly to right, making it a 9-7 advantage.
• The Royals cut it to a one-run margin during the top of the ninth inning with a hit by pitch, groundout and single. Senior Nick Durso (Morris Plains, N.J./Parsippany Hills) entered from the bullpen, and after a stolen base put the tying run in scoring position, he recorded the game's final out with a punchout.

 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

• Kubis was 4-for-5 with three RBI and a run scored, while Peralta finished 2-for-3 and added a sacrifice fly and three RBI.
• Junior Jose Marte (Bogota, N.J./Bogota) worked the first 4.2 innings, surrendering six runs on 12 hits and a walk, striking out four.
• Junior Jacob Herrera (Bayonne, N.J./St. Mary) gave up two hits, one run and a walk over 1.0 inning, registering one punchout. Sophomore Jayden Villalta (Pompton Lakes, N.J./Pompton Lakes) earned the win in relief (1-0) with 3.0 innings of one-hit, one-run ball, striking out four. Durso picked up his third save with the final out.

 
GAME TWO
HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Scranton started the scoring during the top half of the second inning with a leadoff base hit, walk, groundout and two-run single.
• WP answered with two runs of its own during its next at-bat. Kobylakiewicz started the frame with a double down the left-field line and Kubis walked. Senior right fielder Thomas Jova (Gillette, N.J./Watchung Hills Regional) was hit by a two-out pitch, freshman shortstop Christian Pelaez (Hackensack, N.J./Hackensack) delivered a run-scoring infield single and senior third baseman Jordan Brown (Piscataway, N.J./Piscataway) drew a bases-loaded walk for a 2-2 score.
• Peralta singled in Colon, who opened the third with a walk, for a 3-2 Pioneer lead.
• The Royals strung together a hit by pitch, two singles and a groundout for a 4-3 edge during the top of the fourth frame, and added a solo home run in the fifth for a 5-3 lead.
• The Pioneers got one run back during the home half of the fifth with a Santos base hit to right center, a wild pitch, a Colon flyout and a Kobylakiewicz RBI-single through the right side.
• Scranton opened things up with a four-run sixth, creating a 9-4 margin.
• William Paterson fought back to cross the plate three times during the bottom of the sixth inning. Sophomore catcher Alex Gomez (Rutherford, N.J./Rutherford) started with a base hit to right, Jova and Pelaez walked, and Brown had an infield base hit for the first run. A Santos RBI-groundout and an error off the bat of Colon pulled the Pioneers within two at 9-7.
• WP had the tying run aboard with one out in the seventh, but a fielder's choice and groundout ended the rally short.

 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

• Kobylakiewicz was 3-for-4, posting a double, RBI and run scored. Brown finished 1-for-4 and plated two runners.
• Junior Rob Nathan (Lords Valley, Pa./Vernon Twp.) tossed 5.0 innings as the starter and gave up eight hits, five runs and three walks with five strikeouts (1-2).
• Freshman Pete Hammerle (Frankford, N.J./Lakeland Regional) was charged with four runs (three earned), three hits and a walk in 0.1 inning, making his first collegiate appearance. Senior Chris Quartuccio (Glen Gardner, N.J./Voorhees) recorded two outs, issuing a walk, and sophomore Gavin DeNardo (Wayne, N.J./Wayne Hills) had a walk and a strikeout during 1.0 inning on the mound.

 
UP NEXT:

• William Paterson will host Stevens Monday, March 9, at 3:00 p.m.

 
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