WAYNE, N.J. – The William Paterson baseball team (18-18, 7-9 NJAC) suffered an 8-1 Senior Day loss against No. 3/7 Ramapo (28-8-1, 10-6 NJAC) April 29.
WP is in a three-way tie for sixth place in the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) standings with two games remaining. The top six teams qualify for the NJAC Tournament that begins May 3.
The Roadrunners plated two runners during the top of first inning. Sophomore left fielder Matthew Chemis reached second base on a one-out error, senior second baseman Joe Venturino walked and the two runners stole a base on a strikeout. Junior center fielder Brandon Martinez then singled to right field to hand Ramapo a 2-0 lead.
Sophomore third baseman Austin Unglaub singled to center field and was sacrificed to second by senior designated hitter Scott Paulus to open the second frame. Sophomore shortstop Bobby Shannon delivered an RBI-single to center and senior catcher Ryan Rinsky doubled in Shannon before junior right fielder Rob DeAngelis drove across Rinsky with a base hit to center. Martinez was later hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, pushing the margin to 6-0.
The Pioneers got one run back during the bottom of the fourth when senior third baseman Victor Sanchez (Haverstraw, N.Y./North Rockland) squeezed a leadoff double just inside the right-field line and graduate student shortstop K.C. Abel (Wayne, N.J./Wayne Valley) knocked an RBI-single up the middle.
Ramapo crossed the plate twice in the top of the fifth as Unglaub had a two-out base hit up the middle, Paulus doubled down the right-field line and Shannon put a double into left field.
Abel was 2-for-4 with a double and RBI, and Sanchez finished 2-for-4 with a double and run scored.
Sophomore Steve Duda (Berkeley Heights, N.J./Governor Livingston) allowed six runs (four earned) on six hits and two walks with one strikeout during the first 1.2 innings (0-1). Freshman Chris Babb (West Milford, N.J./DePaul Catholic) pitched 6.1 innings and gave up five hits, two runs and a pair of bases on balls while posting four strikeouts, and classmate Chase Strynkowski (Hillsdale, N.J./Pascack Valley Regional) retired all three batters he faced.
Shannon went 2-for-4 with a double, two RBI and a run scored for Ramapo.
Junior Casey Jervis (2-0) gave up four hits, one run and a walk while striking out six over 7.0 innings. Freshman Greg Westhelle tossed the final 2.0 innings of one-hit ball, walking one and striking out two.
Prior to the game, WP honored its seven seniors – Abel, Jordan Aughey (Wanaque, N.J./Lakeland Regional), Jon Bujtas (Boonton, N.J./Seton Hall Prep), Mitch D'Amato (Edison, N.J./Edison), Justin Ferreira (Elmwood Park, N.J./Elmwood Park Memorial), Jimmy Kenny (Fairfield, N.J./West Essex Regional) and Sanchez.
William Paterson will finish the regular season with a doubleheader at New Jersey City Saturday, April 30, at 11:30 a.m.
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