AUBURNDALE, FLA. – Sophomore center fielder Mike Abate (Wayne, N.J./Wayne Hills) was 4-for-5 at the plate and senior Tom Gaccione (Little Falls, N.J./Passaic Valley Regional) pitched six innings of one-run ball as the William Paterson baseball team (8-1) posted a 6-1 victory against Trinity (5-2) March 19 at the Central Florida Invitational.

The Pioneers struck first with a pair of runs during the top of the fifth inning. Sophomore catcher Brady Pevny (West Milford, N.J./West Milford) singled to left center to start the frame and was sacrificed to second by junior shortstop Victor Sanchez (Haverstraw, N.Y./North Rockland). Following a groundout, Abate dropped down a bunt single, and two errors on the play allowed Pevny to cross the plate. Junior left fielder Tyler Garguilo's (Paramus, N.J./Paramus) RBI-single to right field made it a 2-0 game.

The Bantams got one of those runs back in the sixth, thanks to a walk and a pair of base hits.

WP took control of the game with a three-run seventh. Sanchez drew a leadoff walk and junior second baseman Justin Ferreira's (Elmwood Park, N.J./Elmwood Park Memorial) sacrifice attempt was thrown away, putting runners on the corners. Another bunt single, this one by Abate, loaded the bags, and an error on a Garguilo batted ball plated Sanchez. Ferreira scored on a double play, and graduate student designated hitter AJ Flores (West Orange, N.J./West Orange) drove in Abate with a base hit through the left side of the infield.

An Abate single and stolen base and a Flores RBI-single to right-center field finished the scoring with a single run during the top of the ninth.

Abate crossed the plate three times and stole two bases, while junior third baseman K.C. Abel (Wayne, N.J./Wayne Valley) finished 3-for-5. Flores went 2-for-5 and drove in two runs.

Gaccione (2-0) scattered four hits over 6.0 innings, striking out four and walking three.  Freshman Bryan Kopko (Colonia, N.J./Colonia) earned his first save after tossing 3.0 shutout innings, posting one strikeout while giving up two hits.

Third baseman Tyler Forgio was 2-for-4 for the Bantams. Junior Jed Robinson fell to 1-1, allowing 10 hits and five unearned runs with four strikeouts and one walk.

William Paterson will square off against No. 1 Wisconsin-Whitewater Friday, March 20, at 11:00 a.m.

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