WAYNE, N.J. – After a combined 52 runs and 6:20 of game action, the No. 22 William Paterson baseball team (16-3, 7-1 NJAC) completed a sweep of New Jersey City (3-16, 1-7 NJAC), 14-3 and 22-13, April 16.
The Pioneers were the home team for the first game, and the visiting team for the second game, during a doubleheader at Jeff Albies Field that featured two bouts of hail as well as numerous rounds of rain showers.
GAME ONE
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- The Pioneers plated six runners during their first at-bat. Senior center fielder Steven DiGirolamo and senior shortstop Matt Ferrara were both issued walks, and senior catcher Dylan Habeeb singled in a run with a ball hit through the left side. After a fielder's choice, senior first baseman Carson Weis drilled an RBI-double to left-center field and senior left fielder Frankie Deane drove in a run with an infield base hit for a 3-0 score. Junior right fielder Adrian Alarcon drew a four-pitch walk to load the bases for junior third baseman Chris Liriano, who dropped a run-scoring single into left field. Junior second baseman Colin Lombardo lifted a sacrifice fly to center that scored Deane, and a throwing error on Alarcon's advance to third allowed him to touch home and make it a 6-0 margin.
- WP added to its advantage during the home half of the second inning with a Habeeb base hit to center and a home run over the left-center fence by junior designated hitter Steve Yelin.
- A base hit/error play and a single to left field plated the Gothic Knights' first run of the game, making it an 8-1 score in the third.
- William Paterson added three more runs during the bottom half of the third, extending its lead to 11-1. Liriano was hit by a pitch and stole second before DiGirolamo walked. After a flyout, Habeeb doubled in one run and Yelin doubled in two more.
- The Pioneers used a pair of two-out walks to Habeeb and Yelin and a Weis RBI-single to make it a 12-1 game after five frames.
- An Alarcon walk was followed by a Liriano triple to right field and a Lombardo run-scoring groundout, adding two more runs in the sixth.
- The Gothic Knights posted a two-run eighth inning thanks to a base on balls, double, triple and error.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
- Habeeb went 3-for-5 with a double, two RBI and four runs scored, and Yelin was 2-for-4 while posting a double, homer, four RBI and two runs.
- Weis, Liriano and Lombardo each drove in a pair of runners.
- Junior Jordan Manne tossed 8.0 innings, allowing three runs (two earned) on six hits and three walks while striking out three (1-2). Freshman Pat Warburton struck out two and walked one during the ninth inning.
GAME TWO
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- WP opened up a 3-0 edge during the top half of the first inning. DiGirolamo led off with a solo homer to right-center field, and a Habeeb double and Yelin single put runners on the corners with one out. Yelin stole second before a strikeout, followed by run-scoring base hits off the bats of Deane and Alarcon.
- NJCU got two of those runs back during their first at-bat with a double and pair of singles, then tied the game at 3-3 in the second via a base on balls and two groundouts.
- The Pioneers re-took the lead with an eight-run top of the third inning. Habeeb and Yelin opened the frame with hit by pitches, and after a pair of flyouts, Alarcon and Liriano each plated a runner with a base hit. Lombardo was hit by a pitch to load the bases, and a wild pitch allowed Alarcon to scamper home. DiGirolamo drew a walk, Ferrara doubled in two runs, Habeeb doubled in two more and Yelin doubled in Habeeb, pushing it to an 11-3 edge.
- The Gothic Knights strung together a solo homer, base hit, stolen base, double and triple for a three-run third.
- William Paterson tacked on four more in the fourth thanks to a two-out Liriano walk and steal, Lombardo RBI-single and steal, DiGirolamo base hit and Ferrara three-run home run to left, making it a 15-6 score.
- Ferrara doubled home Alarcon and DiGirolamo, and Habeeb delivered Ferrara with a base hit through the right side, for an 18-6 margin in the middle of the sixth frame.
- Three walks and a pair of doubles sent home four runners for New Jersey City during the bottom of the seventh inning.
- The Pioneers touched the plate four times in the eighth with a leadoff DiGirolamo single, Habeeb RBI-triple, Yelin run-scoring double, Weis base hit, Deane RBI-single and Alarcon run-scoring double, expanding the advantage to 22-10.
- A pair of walks, a two-run single and an RBI-double added three to the NJCU ledger during the bottom of the eighth frame.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
- Ferrara contributed two doubles, a home run, seven RBI and three runs scored. Habeeb finished 4-for-5 with a pair of doubles, a triple, four RBI and four runs scored.
- DiGirolamo went 4-for-5 while adding a homer and five runs, and Yelin was 4-for-5 with two doubles, a pair of RBI and three runs scored.
- Sophomore Darmany Rivas improved to 4-0 after tossing 5.0 innings, surrendering six runs on seven hits and three walks, striking out six.
- Junior Tyler Searles allowed three hits, four runs and three walks with two punchouts during his 2.0 innings of action, and freshman James Longstreet gave up three runs on two hits and a pair of walks in 1.0 inning. Senior Kyle Weiner pitched 1.0 scoreless inning, scattering a hit and a walk while striking out one.
UP NEXT:
- No. 22 William Paterson travels to Glassboro to play a doubleheader at No. 17 Rowan Saturday, April 17, at 11:30 a.m.
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