WAYNE, N.J. – After giving up a late lead for an opening 8-7 loss, the William Paterson baseball team (13-19, 6-8 NJAC) fought back for an 11-7 second-game victory at Stockton (9-23, 5-9 NJAC) April 18.
With four regular-season games remaining, the Pioneers currently occupy the final spot in the standings for the upcoming six-team NJAC Tournament field.
GAME ONE
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- The Pioneers struck first with a four-run top of the first. Junior second baseman Devin Daproza (Englewood, N.J./Leonia) walked, senior shortstop Dylan Santos (Nutley, N.J./Nutley) singled and freshman first baseman Matt Caruso (North Haledon, N.J./Passaic County Technical) was hit by a pitch to load the bags for junior designated hitter Ty Kobylakiewicz (Woodbridge, N.J./Woodbridge), who plated all three with a double to left. Senior third baseman Angel Colon (Hawthorne, N.J./St. Joseph's Regional) later singled in Kobylakiewicz for a 4-0 edge.
- The Ospreys used a walk, stolen base, groundout and base hit for a single run during the bottom of the first, then added one more in the second with a triple and squeeze.
- Kobylakiewicz singled in Daproza, who opened the fourth with a base on balls and steal, for a 5-2 score.
- Sophomore catcher Alex Gomez (Rutherford, N.J./Rutherford) tripled to right and scampered home on a wild pitch for a 6-2 WP advantage during the top of the fifth inning.
- Stockton answered with a two-run fifth, thanks to a single, error and groundout.
- Daproza's base on balls was followed by a Santos single and an error for one run during the top of the sixth inning.
- The Ospreys cut it to one at 7-6 with a double, wild pitch, passed ball, walk, two hit by pitches, and a base on balls during the home half of the sixth.
- Stockton pushed across two runs in the eighth to take the lead.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
- Kobylakiewicz finished 2-for-4 with a double, four RBI and a run scored. Santos and Colon were both 2-for-5.
- Junior Rob Nathan (Lords Valley, Pa./Vernon Twp.) tossed the first 5.1 innings and allowed six runs (two earned) and six hits with four walks and a strikeout.
- Freshman JT DeRiso (River Vale, N.J./Pascack Valley) was charged with two hits, two runs and three walks over 2.0 innings (2-1).
- Sophomore Jayden Villalta (Pompton Lakes, N.J./Pompton Lakes) pitched the final 0.2 inning, striking out one and walking two.
GAME TWO
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- A Daproza leadoff walk, Santos groundout, wild pitch and Kobylakiewicz base hit handed WP a 1-0 edge in the first.
- The Ospreys tied it up at 1-1 during their first at-bat after a hit by pitch, sacrifice and bunt.
- WP tacked on three runs in the second, using a Colon hit by pitch, a Jordan Brown (Piscataway, N.J./Piscataway) walk, a Gomez bunt single, an RBI-single by junior center fielder Avery Whitney (Hillsborough, N.J./Hillsborough), a Daproza bases-loaded walk, and a Santos sac fly.
- Stockton got one run back in the third on a pair of base hits, a bunt and a sac fly for a 4-2 score.
- William Paterson exploded for a six-run seventh inning. Caruso put a base hit through the right side, Kobylakiewicz was hit by a pitch and junior left fielder Stephen Kubis (Wayne, N.J./Wayne Hills) was issued a walk, loading the bases. An error scored one run, Brown's hit by pitch pushed across a runner, Gomez doubled in two runs and Whitney plated two with a base hit up the middle, making it a 10-2 margin.
- Daproza singled in Brown, who had reached on an error, for an 11-2 lead in the eighth.
- The Ospreys touched home four times on four hits, a walk and a groundout during the home half of the eighth, and added one in the ninth with a base hit, balk, walk and single.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
- Whitney finished 3-for-5 and drove in three runs. Gomez went 2-for-5 with a double, two RBI and a pair of runs scored. Kobylakiewicz was 2-for-3 while tallying a double, RBI and run scored.
- Junior Jose Marte (Bogota, N.J./Bogota) improved to 3-1 with 7.0 innings of four-hit ball, allowing two runs (one earned) while striking out two and walking three.
- Freshman JT Pugliese (Wayne, N.J./Wayne Valley) allowed four runs, three hits and a walk.
- Senior Nick Durso (Morris Plains, N.J./Parsippany Hills) closed out the final 2.0 innings, scattering three hits, a run and a walk.
UP NEXT:
- William Paterson plays at Manhattanville Tuesday, April 21, at 3:30 p.m.
FOLLOW THE PIONEERS:
