PISCATAWAY, N.J. – The William Paterson baseball team (13-19-1, 7-10-1 NJAC) secured a berth in the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) Tournament with a final-day 8-5, 5-3 sweep of Rutgers-Newark (13-24, 6-12 NJAC) April 26 at Rutgers-New Brunswick's Bainton Field.
The sixth-seeded Pioneers will play at top-seeded Rutgers-Camden in the first round of the double-elimination tournament Tuesday, April 29, at 3:30 p.m.
Game One
WP broke a 5-5 deadlock with a two-run seventh, finishing with an 8-5 victory.
The Scarlet Raiders took advantage of a walk, stolen base, passed ball and Jimmy Napolitano RBI-single for a 1-0 first-inning lead.
The Pioneers answered with three runs in the second. Sophomore right fielder Jimmy Kenny (Fairfield, N.J./West Essex Regional) started the frame with a single and stolen base, and freshman catcher Brady Pevny (West Milford, N.J./West Milford) sent him home with a two-out base hit to center. Freshman third baseman Chris Santaniello (Wayne, N.J./Wayne Valley) walked and sophomore left fielder Tyler Garguilo (Paramus, N.J./Paramus) was hit by a pitch, loading the bases. Sophomore shortstop K.C. Abel (Wayne, N.J./Wayne Hills) drew an RBI-walk, then senior designated hitter Trevor Haughney (Old Bridge, N.J./Old Bridge) was hit by a pitch, forcing in another run and making it a 3-1 score.
Santaniello was walked and later scored via an Abel triple, pushing William Paterson ahead by a 4-1 count in the top of the fourth.
Rutgers-Newark evened the game during the home half of the same frame, taking advantage of four singles, a run-scoring groundout and a wild pitch.
Senior second baseman Rob Pasternak's (South Plainfield, N.J./South Plainfield) triple and a later error nudged WP ahead, 5-4 during the fifth, but the Scarlet Raiders put together a single, stolen base and another base hit to once again even the scoreboard, this time during the bottom of the sixth inning.
Pasternak hit a one-out single to start the seventh-inning rally, moved to second thanks to a balk and trotted home when sophomore first baseman Alex Derner (River Edge, N.J./River Dell Regional) launched a home run over the left-field fence.
The Pioneers added a ninth-inning insurance run when Abel was hit by a pitch and Haughney launched a triple to right.
Pasternak was 2-for-5 with a triple and two runs scored, and Abel, Haughney and Derner each contributed two RBI.
Senior Josh Jensen (West Milford, N.J./West Milford) allowed seven hits and four runs (three earned) during his 4.2 innings, striking out three and walking three. Junior Tom Gaccione (Little Falls, N.J./Passaic Valley Regional) earned the win in relief (2-2), giving up a run and two hits in 1.1 innings. Classmate Joe Moran (Wharton, N.J./Morris Hills) surrendered two hits over 2.0 innings, and sophomore Frankie Colasante (Paramus, N.J./Paramus) picked up his first save with two strikeouts and a hit allowed during the ninth.
Senior first baseman Vin Troisi and Napolitano were both 2-for-5 with an RBI. Sophomore Chris Nichols gave up four runs on three hits over 4.0 innings, striking out two and walking three. Classmate Ryan MacFarlane (0-3) allowed three hits and three runs (two earned) during his 3.0 innings, and freshman Chas Bohannon surrendered a run and a hit in 2.0 innings.
Game Two
William Paterson held off Rutgers-Newark late for a 5-3 win to finish the sweep.
The Pioneers took control with a three-run fourth inning. Abel started the frame with a hit by pitch, stole second and advanced to third due to a wild pitch. Haughney doubled to left to plate Abel, and after another wild pitch, Pasternak hit an RBI-single to right. Kenny sacrificed Pasternak to second base, and a third wild pitch led to Derner's run-scoring single to right field.
Two singles and a walk allowed the Scarlet Raiders to cross the plate once during the home half of the fourth, but WP added two more runs in the top of the eighth. Haughney walked and Pasternak tripled him in, followed by an error that was enough for Pasternak to advance the final 90 feet.
A single and walk set up a Troisi two-run double during Rutgers-Newark's final at-bat, but a flyout ended the threat and the game.
Pasternak was 3-for-4 with a triple, two RBI and a pair of runs scored.
Junior Kevin Cowan (Elizabeth, N.J./Roselle Catholic) improved to 3-2, scattering six hits and one run over 7.1 innings, striking out two and walking a pair. Senior Jake Menzo (Ramsey, N.J./Ramsey) gave up two runs on one hit in 1.1 innings, and Colasante picked up his second save of the day by recording the final out.
Junior left fielder Michael Murray finished 3-for-4 with a run scored. Freshman Rafael Totesautt gave up three runs on six hits in 5.1 innings, posting two strikeouts and three walks. Napolitano walked three while allowing two runs and a hit during 2.2 innings, and senior Michael Garcia tossed 1.0 scoreless inning.
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