WAYNE, N.J. – The William Paterson baseball team (3-1) split a pair of one-run, extra-inning decisions with visiting Franklin & Marshall (1-3) March 1. WP fell 3-2 in nine innings during the opener, but won the night cap by a 1-0 score in eight innings during a seven-inning doubleheader against the Diplomats.
GAME ONE
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- The Pioneers struck first, using two walks, an error, a bases-loaded hit by pitch and a wild pitch to push across two runs during their first at-bat.
- F&M leveled the score in the top of the fourth inning thanks to a pair of singles, a base on balls, an error and a sacrifice fly.
- The Diplomats scored the winning run during the top half of the ninth, stringing together a base hit to center field, a sacrifice bunt and a ground-rule double over the fence in left center.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
- Junior catcher Steve Yelin (River Edge, N.J./River Dell Regional) went 2-for-3 at the plate, and junior right fielder Dan Carter (Bloomfield, N.J./Bloomfield) was 2-for-4 with a double.
- Junior Riley Weis (River Vale, N.J./Pascack Valley Regional) gave up two runs (one earned) on two hits and a pair of walks, collecting five strikeouts during the game's first 5.1 innings. Sophomore Matt Lawler (Linwood, N.J./Mainland Regional) (0-1) surrendered four hits, one walk and a run in 3.1 innings of relief, and freshman Darmany Rivas (Bloomfield, N.J./Bloomfield) recorded the final out.
GAME TWO
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- WP broke the scoreless tie during the home half of the eighth when junior first baseman Carson Weis (River Vale, N.J./Pascack Valley Regional) dropped a base hit into shallow left-center field and Yelin drilled an RBI-double to left.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
- Yelin and Weis each had a pair of hits for the Pioneers.
- Rookie Ian Metzger (Verona, N.J./Verona) spun a gem during his first career start, tossing 101 pitches for the complete-game victory (2-0). He scattered four hits and three walks over 8.0 innings, striking out nine.
UP NEXT:
- William Paterson continues its seven-game homestand Thursday, March 5, with a contest against NYU at 3:00 p.m.
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