EWING, N.J. – Sixth-seeded William Paterson (23-15, 9-9 NJAC) suffered a 9-0 loss at top-seeded and No. 9/8 The College of New Jersey (28-7, 14-4 NJAC) during the first round of the double-elimination New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) Baseball Tournament May 1.

The Pioneers will face fifth-seeded Kean in an elimination game Friday, May 4, at 12:00 p.m. at Kean.

Two walks and a fielder's choice led to a passed ball that scored the first run of the game during the bottom of the second inning, and after a strikeout, an RBI-single to left made it a 2-0 Lion lead.

A pair of base hits and an error pushed it to 3-0 in the third, and a two-out single, steal, walk, stolen base and run-scoring base hit to center field made it 4-0 in the fourth.

TCNJ used a leadoff double, two singles, a sacrifice bunt and a sac fly to add two more runs during the home half of the fifth. The Lions added another run in the sixth via a double, steal and base hit through the left side.

A leadoff single, walk, wild pitch and two-run base hit to center finished the scoring in the eighth.

Freshman center fielder Steven DiGirolamo was 3-for-4 at the plate for the Pioneers, and sophomore third baseman Carlos Perez went 2-for-4 with a double.

Junior Chris Babb tossed the first 4.0 innings, surrendering five runs (two earned) on seven hits and three walks while striking out two (3-5). Classmates Doug Olcese and Jack Benson each allowed two hits and one run in 1.0 inning of work, while sophomore Zac Polzer scattered two hits and a walk over 1.0 scoreless inning, striking out one. Junior Jeff Lombardi, Jr. pitched the final 1.0 inning and gave up two runs on a pair of hits and two walks while registering one strikeout.

Sophomore catcher David Cardona went 3-for-4 with three RBI for TCNJ. Senior Joe Cirillo pitched a complete game, allowing nine hits while striking out four (6-1).

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