AUBURNDALE, FLA. – The William Paterson baseball team (3-1-1) suffered its first loss of the season, a 13-12 decision against Salve Regina (1-1) March 11 at the RussMatt Central Florida Invitational.
The Pioneers took a 2-0 lead during the bottom of the first inning. Senior center fielder Mike Abate (Wayne, N.J./Wayne Hills) reached on a leadoff walk and senior left fielder Mike Rowe (Cedar Grove, N.J./Cedar Grove) hit a ground-rule double down the right-field line before a later error allowed both runners to touch home.
The Seahawks used five hits and an error to push across six runs for a 6-2 lead in the third, and RBI-singles by sophomore right fielder Zack Smith and freshman designated hitter Stephen Cirella made it an 8-2 margin during the top of the fourth.
Freshman second baseman Matt Ferrara (Paramus, N.J./Paramus) led off the bottom of the fifth inning with a walk and Abate's bunt single left runners on the corners. Rowe lined a sacrifice fly to left and junior right fielder Anthony Hoagland (Dumont, N.J./Dumont) was hit by a pitch before senior first baseman Eriq Colón (Hackensack, N.J./Hackensack) drilled a three-run homer to left for an 8-6 game.
Salve Regina added four more runs in the sixth, using a Smith run-scoring double, an RBI-single from sophomore second baseman Colton Eremian, a Christian Vargas sac fly and a passed ball.
Three straight singles by Abate, Rowe and Hoagland led to a Colón bases-clearing double, followed by an RBI-groundout by senior catcher Mike Knauf (Manalapan, N.J./Manalapan), to pull WP within two at 12-10 after six.
A two-out bunt single and an error off the bat of center fielder Brody Santilli, and a Vargas base hit, made it a 13-10 game in the top of the eighth.
Hoagland drew a leadoff walk during the home half of the same frame, advanced to second thanks to a wild pitch and scored when Knauf doubled down the right-field line. Pinch runner K.J. Martoral (Dumont, N.J./Dumont) entered the game, and after junior shortstop Rob Eggert (South Plainfield, N.J./South Plainfield) was hit by a pitch, Martoral scored when junior third baseman Bernard Brito (Fair Lawn, N.J./Fair Lawn) hit a two-out single to right for a 13-12 score.
The Pioneers had the tying run at third with one out in the ninth, but he got caught in a rundown for the second out. A walk and hit by pitch loaded the bases, but a fielder's choice ended the threat and the game.
Colón was 2-for-5 with a double, home run, six RBI and two runs scored. Abate finished 3-for-5 and scored three times, and Rowe was 2-for-4 with a double, RBI and two runs scored.
Sophomore Chris Babb (West Milford, N.J./DePaul Catholic) suffered the loss (2-1), giving up eight runs (six earned) on seven hits and a walk, striking out two over 3.2 innings. Junior Steve Duda (Berkeley Heights, N.J./Governor Livingston) allowed three hits and two runs (one earned) with a walk and strikeout over 1.2 innings, and sophomore Jeff Lombardi (Kendall Park, N.J./South Brunswick) surrendered two unearned runs, a pair of hits and a base on balls in 0.2 inning. Sophomore Kevin Ludden (Monroe, N.J./Monroe Twp.) gave up a hit and a walk without registering an out, while classmate Chris Phillips (Wayne, N.J./Wayne Hills) threw the final 3.0 innings and struck out two while allowing one run and two hits.
Smith finished 3-for-5 with a double, three RBI and two runs scored. Eremian was 2-for-5 and added a double, three RBI and a pair of runs scored.
Senior reliever Frank Lemieux (1-0) secured the win with 1.0 inning of shutout, one-hit work, striking out two and walking one. Junior Jonathan Lynch picked up his first save by recording the final out of the game.
William Paterson will take on St. Norbert Sunday, March 12, for a doubleheader starting at 10:00 a.m. at the RussMatt Central Florida Invitational.
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