MAHWAH, N.J. – Graduate student shortstop K.C. Abel (Wayne, N.J./Wayne Valley) and senior right fielder Jimmy Kenny (Fairfield, N.J./West Essex Regional) each had three RBI as the William Paterson baseball team (18-17, 7-8 NJAC) pulled away for an 8-2 victory at No. 3/7 Ramapo (27-8-1, 9-6 NJAC) April 28.
WP is tied for sixth in the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) standings with three games remaining. The top six teams qualify for the NJAC Tournament that begins May 3.
The Roadrunners struck first when senior designated hitter Scott Paulus reached base on a leadoff error, was sacrificed to second by sophomore shortstop Bobby Shannon, moved to third on a groundout and scored on a Matt Chemis single to center field during the bottom of the third inning.
The Pioneers evened the score during their next at-bat. Junior center fielder Mike Abate (Wayne, N.J./Wayne Hills) opened the fourth with a double to right, was sacrificed to third by senior third baseman Victor Sanchez (Haverstraw, N.Y./North Rockland) and crossed the plate on an Abel groundout.
WP scored three more times in the fifth. Freshman first baseman Garret Wiedemann (Paramus, N.J./Paramus) hit a leadoff single to center, and junior left fielder Mike Rowe's (Cedar Grove, N.J./Cedar Grove) bunt was mishandled by the pitcher, an error and sacrifice. After a strikeout and fielder's choice resulted in runners on the corners with two outs, Abel singled in Wiedemann and Kenny hit an RBI-single to center. A later errant throw by the catcher to third sailed into left field, allowing Abel to touch home and make it a 4-1 lead.
Base hits by Shannon, junior right fielder Rob DeAngelis and senior second baseman Joe Venturino added a Ramapo run during the home half of the fifth.
The Pioneers broke the game open with four scores in the seventh. Abate hit a one-out single to the pitcher, Sanchez walked and Abel drove in a run with a base hit to center field. A Kenny double to the center-field wall scored two more runners, and junior catcher Mike Knauf (Manalapan, N.J./Manalapan) singled in Kenny.
Kenny finished 3-for-5 with two doubles, three RBI and a run scored, while Abel went 2-for-5 while adding three RBI and two runs scored. Knauf was 2-for-3 and drove in a run.
Senior Mitch D'Amato (Edison, N.J./Edison) pitched the complete game, allowing two runs (one earned) on eight hits and two walks, striking out five (6-2).
Venturino was 2-for-4 with an RBI. Freshman starter Kyle Haag took the loss (2-1), surrendering six hits, four runs (one earned) and two walks while striking out five.
William Paterson will celebrate Senior Day Friday, April 29, against No. 3/7 Ramapo at 3:30 p.m.
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