WAYNE, N.J. – The William Paterson baseball team (17-9) defeated Wilkes (15-12) in walkoff fashion, 10-9 in 10 innings, April 12 at Jeff Albies Field.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- The Colonels struck first with a base hit, stolen base, sacrifice bunt and RBI-single, taking a 1-0 fourth-inning lead.
- The Pioneers responded with a nine-run fifth. Senior third baseman Colin Lombardo doubled down the left-field line and scored when a Carson Weis ground ball was thrown away. Senior right fielder Steve Yelin's ground ball moved Weis to third, and he scored via a wild pitch. Senior designated hitter Dan Carter's line drive over the center fielder's head went for a triple, and senior catcher Dylan Habeeb singled him in for a 3-1 edge. After a flyout, sophomore second baseman Jake Lutz dropped a base hit into left field and senior shortstop Chris Liriano walked, loading the bases. A Justin Grippo base on balls and a Lombardo hit by pitch forced in two runs, followed by a Weis three-run double to left-center field. Yelin's triple to right plated Weis and WP owned a 9-1 advantage.
- Wilkes used a triple and run-scoring groundout to make it a 9-2 game in the sixth.
- A triple and groundout added one to the Colonels' tally during the top of the seventh inning.
- Wilkes knotted the score at 9-9 in the eighth, stringing together five hits, an error, a hit by pitch, a fielder's choice and a WP error.
- Weis reached base on an error to start the bottom of the 10th, was sacrificed to second by freshman second baseman Tom Radigan on a 0-2 count, and advanced to third on a Carter flyout. Habeeb then drilled a ball through the hole on the left side, a walkoff single to hand the Pioneers the win.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
- Habeeb was 2-for-5 with two RBI and a run scored. Carter and Yelin both finished 2-for-5 as well. Weis drove in three runs.
- Freshman Nick Durso tossed 6.0 innings as the starter, surrendering two runs, eight hits and two walks with four strikeouts.
- Freshman Pat Pantoliano allowed a run and a hit during 1.0 inning of relief. Graduate student Jason Rivera was charged with five runs (four earned) and three hits in 0.1 inning, and sophomore Pat Warburton gave up two hits and one run during 0.2 inning of action.
- Senior Jordan Manne went 2.0 scoreless innings, scattering two hits and registering three strikeouts (2-1).
UP NEXT:
- William Paterson returns to league action Thursday, April 14, at Rutgers-Newark at 3:30 p.m.
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