LAKE MYRTLE, FLA. – The William Paterson baseball team (7-1) scored during its first four at-bats en route to an 8-6 victory against Springfield (0-5) March 18 at the Central Florida Invitational.
Freshman second baseman Jacob Bailey (Middletown, N.J./Middletown North) was 2-for-3 with a pair of RBI and a run scored, and junior shortstop Victor Sanchez (Haverstraw, N.Y./North Rockland) finished 2-for-3 and scored once. Junior right fielder Jimmy Kenny (Fairfield, N.J./West Essex Regional) and freshman catcher Jorge Solodkin (Short Hills, N.J./Millburn) each contributed a pair of RBI.
Three singles and an error gave the Pride a 1-0 edge during the top of the first inning, but the Pioneers knotted the score during their first at-bat. Junior left fielder Tyler Garguilo (Paramus, N.J./Paramus) put a one-out single into left field and advanced to third thanks to an error. Kenny plated him with a sacrifice fly to right.
Three singles and an RBI-groundout made it a 3-1 Springfield lead in the second, but again William Paterson tied it up during the home half of the frame. Infield singles by Bailey and Sanchez led to a Solodkin bases-clearing double down the left-field line.
The Pride seized the lead back via a pair of third-inning singles and a walk, but William Paterson was able to take its first lead of the game during its next at-bat. Freshman first baseman Anthony Hoagland (Dumont, N.J./Dumont) drew a leadoff walk and an error put Kenny aboard. Both runners moved up 90 feet thanks to a sacrifice from graduate student designated hitter AJ Flores (West Orange, N.J./West Orange), and Bailey drove them both in with a base hit up the middle for a 5-4 advantage.
Two more Pioneer runs crossed the plate in the bottom of the fourth. Garguilo reached on a one-out error and stole second, Hoagland walked, and the pair pulled off a double steal. Kenny singled in Garguilo, and Flores' groundout allowed Hoagland to score and make it a 7-4 game.
Springfield got to within one, using a hit, error, walk and fielder's choice for two fifth-inning runs.
WP finished the scoring with a single run during the eighth inning. Sophomore center fielder Mike Abate (Wayne, N.J./Wayne Hills) and Garguilo were hit by pitches and Hoagland walked before a passed ball plated Abate.
Freshman starter Corey Martinez (River Edge, N.J./River Dell Regional) allowed 10 hits and six runs (four earned) in 4.2 innings of action, walking four and striking out two. Classmate Mario Danza (Monroe, N.J./Monroe Twp.) pitched 2.2 scoreless innings for the victory (1-0), scattering three hits while registering two strikeouts. Junior Mitch D'Amato (Edison, N.J./Edison) had his second save of the season, striking out one in 1.2 innings.
Five different Springfield players each had a pair of hits. Starter Tyler Kelly suffered the loss (0-1), giving up eight hits and seven runs (three earned) over 5.0 innings with three walks and a strikeout.
William Paterson will play Trinity Thursday, March 19, at 9:30 a.m.
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