WAYNE, N.J. – The William Paterson baseball team (0-0-1) played to a 5-5 tie with visiting Stevens (1-2-1) Feb. 24 in a game stopped after seven innings due to darkness.
A two-out walk issued to sophomore right fielder Donny Gherardi, a Nick Bennett single to left field and a base hit up the middle by senior designated hitter Zeph Walters handed the Ducks a 1-0 third-inning advantage.
Stevens added three more runs during the top of the fourth. Senior right fielder Michael Mulé singled through the right side and stole second, followed by an error. The throw to second on a double steal got through and into center field, allowing Mulé to score, and a base hit by freshman left fielder Michael Falcon, an RBI-single to center by senior shortstop Harrison Kaye, a walk and a bases-loaded hit by pitch made it a 4-0 margin.
A two-out, bases-loaded walk issued to sophomore third baseman Carlos Leon pushed the Ducks' lead to 5-0 by the middle of the fifth.
The Pioneers struck back for four scores during the home half of the fifth. Senior left fielder Mike Rowe (Cedar Grove, N.J./Cedar Grove) was hit by a two-out pitch and was doubled in by junior right fielder Anthony Hoagland (Dumont, N.J./Dumont). An error put senior first baseman Eriq Colón (Hackensack, N.J./Hackensack) aboard, and a walk to senior catcher Mike Knauf (Manalapan, N.J./Manalapan) loaded the bases for freshman designated hitter Carlos Perez (Hawthorne, N.J./Hawthorne). He delivered a double to right-center field, driving in all three runners to make it a 5-4 game.
A base hit to center field by freshman second baseman Matt Ferrara (Paramus, N.J./Paramus) and walks issued to senior center fielder Mike Abate (Wayne, N.J./Wayne Hills), Hoagland and Colón leveled the score at 5-5 during the bottom of the sixth inning.
The Pioneers had runners on first and second with one out in the seventh when Ferrara hit a slow bouncer to third for a single, but the lead runner went too far past third base and was thrown out trying to get back. A final fielder's choice ended the inning and the Pioneers' chances to push across the winning run.
Ferrara finished 2-for-4 and scored a run, while Perez hit a three-run double.
Sophomore Eric Rosenberg (Paramus, N.J./Paramus) pitched the first 3.2 innings, allowing four runs (three earned) on six hits and two walks, striking out one. Junior Adam Miller (West Orange, N.J./West Orange) gave up one run on one hit and two walks over 0.1 inning, and sophomore Chris Babb (West Milford, N.J./DePaul Catholic) struck out four and walked two in 3.0 innings of relief.
Seven different Ducks accounted for Stevens' seven hits. Junior Quinn DiPasquale threw the first 4.2 innings, surrendering four runs (one earned), five hits and two walks while registering five strikeouts. Walters covered the final 2.1 innings and gave up three hits, one run and four walks while striking out four.
William Paterson will visit Drew Tuesday, Feb. 28, at 3:00 p.m.
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