WAYNE, N.J. – The William Paterson baseball team (11-2, 2-0 NJAC) cruised to an opening 18-7 victory against Rutgers-Camden (1-7, 0-2 NJAC) April 3, then finished off a conference-opening sweep with a 3-1 win.
Because the games were supposed to be held in Camden, the Pioneers were the visiting team for each game contested at Jeff Albies Field.
GAME ONE
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- A two-run triple and a sacrifice fly allowed the Scarlet Raptors the cross the plate first, building a 3-0 first-inning lead.
- The Pioneers got back those three runs during the top half of the second. Senior first baseman Carson Weis led off by reaching first on a swinging strikeout that was thrown away by the catcher. Back-to-back doubles by junior right fielder Adrian Alarcon and senior left fielder Frankie Deane scored one run, and junior second baseman Colin Lombardo's groundout added another tally. Two batters later senior center fielder Steven DiGirolamo plated a runner with a fielder's choice.
- A triple and single to start the bottom of the second pushed Rutgers-Camden ahead, 4-3.
- WP took control with a three-run third. Junior designated hitter Steve Yelin and Weis were both issued walks, Alarcon singled in Yelin, Deane walked and Lombardo hit a two-run single to right.
- The Pioneers made it a 12-4 game during the top of the fourth inning. Yelin had a one-out base hit, Weis and Alarcon drew walks, and Deane singled in Yelin. Lombardo was issued a bases-loaded walk, junior third baseman Chris Liriano drilled a three-run triple to left field, and he later crossed the plate via an error.
- Deane had a one-out single in the fifth, went to second on a balk, advanced to third on Lombardo's base hit, and scored via a DiGirolamo fielder's choice.
- Rutgers-Camden used three base hits to plate a single fifth-inning score, making it a 13-5 game.
- William Paterson struck for five more runs during the top half of the sixth inning thanks to a Yelin sac fly, a Weis RBI-single and a Liriano bases-loaded triple.
- A walk, triple and error added the Scarlet Raptors' final two runs during the home half of the sixth.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
- Liriano was 2-for-2 with a pair of three-run triples, adding three walks. Deane went 4-for-4 while posting a double, two RBI and four runs scored. Lombardo had three hits, four RBI and two runs.
- Senior starter Jason Palmeri surrendered four runs, seven hits and one walk in 1.2 innings of action. Junior Matt Lawler tossed the next 5.1 innings and allowed three runs (two earned), seven hits and a walk with two strikeouts (3-0).
- Junior Riley Weis struck out two of the three batters he faced, and senior Jason Rivera gave up a hit and a walk while striking out one during the ninth inning.
GAME TWO
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- WP took a 2-0 lead during the top of the second inning. Alarcon reached on a one-out error and Lombardo was hit by a pitch, setting up Liriano's two-run ground-rule double.
- Deane doubled in Yelin, who had drawn a leadoff walk, for a 3-0 lead in the fifth.
- A single and double combined for a single Rutgers-Camden run during the bottom of the sixth.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
- Liriano was 3-for-4 while hitting two doubles and driving in a run. Deane's 2-for-3 effort included a double and an RBI.
- Senior Jack DeFouw pitched 7.0 innings of one-run ball, striking out four and walking two with five hits (4-0).
- Sophomore Darmany Rivas picked up his second save with 2.0 shutout innings of relief, giving up a hit and tallying a strikeout.
UP NEXT:
- William Paterson hosts Ramapo Thursday, April 8, at 3:30 p.m.
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