HOBOKEN, N.J. – The William Paterson baseball team (0-1) dropped a 7-4 see-saw affair at Stevens (1-2) during the Pioneers' 2018 season opener Feb. 24, seeing the final runs cross the plate on a walk-off homer by the Ducks.
Freshman first baseman Carson Weis handed the Pioneers a 1-0 second-inning lead with his solo home run to right-center field.
WP ran into trouble in the bottom of the seventh when a hit by pitch and two walks loaded the bases to start the frame. Another base on balls and a two-run single through the left side made it a 3-1 Stevens advantage.
The Pioneers fought back for two runs in the eighth. Sophomore second baseman Matt Ferrara opened with a base hit, and after a strikeout, sophomore designated hitter Carlos Perez walked. The two runners moved up a base thanks to a Greg Cuevas groundout, and an error on a Weiss grounder allowed Ferrara and Perez to cross the plate and tie the score.
The Ducks strung together a double, sacrifice bunt and RBI-single for a 4-3 edge after eight innings.
Freshman center fielder Steven DiGirolamo drilled a one-out double to right center and a later Stevens error allowed him to knot the score at 4-4 during the top of the ninth inning
An error and walk put two runners aboard for the Ducks with one out in the bottom of the ninth, and sophomore second baseman Patrick Rood delivered a walk-off homer to right center.
Weis finished 2-for-4 with a solo home run. Ferrara and DiGirolamo each contributed a hit and a run scored.
Junior Corey Martinez tossed the first 6.0 shutout innings, scattering three hits and four walks while striking out seven. Classmate Chris Babb gave up three runs on two walks, while senior Bryan Kopko pitched 1.0 scoreless inning and struck out two while allowing a hit and a walk. Sophomore Zach Polzer took the loss (0-1) with 1.1 innings of work, surrendering four runs (three earned), three hits and a walk.
Junior outfielder Donny Gherardi went 2-for-3 and scored a run for the Ducks, and Rood and senior first baseman Alex Detweiler combined for five RBI.
Senior Drew Hanke got the win in relief (1-0), giving up one unearned run and a hit while punching out one during the eighth.
William Paterson will begin its home slate Wednesday, Feb. 28, at 3:00 p.m. against Drew.
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