WAYNE, N.J. – The William Paterson baseball team (1-2) exploded for 10 hits, including three for extra bases, during a 13-2 victory against Baruch (0-1) March 1. The game was called in the middle of the eighth inning due to darkness.
The Bearcats put together a pair of singles, an error and a sacrifice fly for a single unearned run during their first at-bat.
WP answered right back by crossing the plate five times during the bottom of the first inning. Freshman center fielder Steven DiGirolamo opened the frame with a triple down the right-field line, followed promptly by an RBI-single up the middle from freshman third baseman Christopher Liriano. A wild pitch moved him to second, and an error advanced Liriano to third and put graduate student left fielder Anthony Hoagland aboard. A passed ball plated Liriano, and a fly ball moved Hoagland to third before freshman shortstop Greg Cuevas' sac fly made it a 3-1 game. Sophomore second baseman Matt Ferrara later plated two runs with his double to the bottom of the left-field fence for a 5-1 edge.
The Pioneers added two more in the fourth. Freshman right fielder Dan Carter led off with a base hit through the left side, stole second and advanced to third on a passed ball before Ferrara's walk put runners on the corners. Freshman catcher Stephen Zukofsky's squeeze bunt resulted in an RBI-single, and DiGirolamo's sacrifice left runners on second and third. Sophomore third baseman Carlos Perez hit a grounder to second and the throw was too late to the plate, a fielder's choice for a 7-1 lead.
A two-out error, wild pitch and base hit added one to the Baruch total in the top of the fifth.
William Paterson made it an 11-2 margin after five innings, scoring four times with two outs. A Carter triple and walks issued to Ferrara and Zukofsky loaded the bases for DiGirolamo, who sent a grounder to the shortstop. The fielder tried to beat Zukofsky to the bag at second but was too late, allowing Carter to score. An error plated Ferrara before a hit and error off a batted ball by Hoagland were enough for Zukofsky and DiGirolamo to trot home.
The Pioneers tacked on two more in the seventh with a Ferrara single, Eric Breun hit by pitch, Perez fielder's choice, Baruch error and wild pitch.
Carter finished 3-for-4 with a triple and three runs scored, and Ferrara finished 2-for-3 with a double, two RBI and three runs scored.
Sophomore starter Kyle Weiner surrendered two unearned runs over 5.0 innings, scattering four hits and a walk while registering seven strikeouts (1-0). Junior Jeff Lombardi, Jr. walked one of the three batters he faced during the sixth, and classmate Jack Benson posted one strikeout in the seventh. Junior Eric Rosenberg had one punchout during his 1.0 inning on the mound.
Junior second baseman Michael McGroarty went 2-for-3 and plated a run for the Bearcats.
Baruch junior JP Ramirez gave up nine runs (three earned) on seven hits and two walks, striking out five over 4.2 innings (0-1). Sophomore Endel Mendez pitched 1.1 innings, allowing two unearned runs, a pair of hits, a walk and a strikeout, while freshman Isaac Trejo surrendered a pair of unearned runs in 1.0 inning, walking one and striking out one.
William Paterson will host Keene State for a seven-inning doubleheader Saturday, March 4, at 11:00 a.m.
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