NEWARK, N.J. – In a game that ended six hours after it started due to a lengthy weather delay, the William Paterson baseball team (18-9, 4-3 NJAC) registered an 11-2 victory at Rutgers-Newark (12-11, 1-5 NJAC) April 14.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- The Pioneers jumped out to a 2-0 first-inning lead when graduate student first baseman Carson Weis and senior catcher Steve Yelin singled to center, followed by a two-run double to left by senior left fielder Dan Carter.
- The Scarlet Raiders tied the score at 2-2 during their first at-bat with a two-out run-scoring double and single.
- WP made it a 5-2 game in the second with a base hit by senior right fielder Vinnie Martin, a two-run homer by senior third baseman Colin Lombardo, a Weis walk, a wild pitch and a run-scoring error.
- Junior center fielder Elliott Hayward reached base during the top of the third inning on a bunt single and sophomore second baseman Jake Lutz promptly homered, creating a 7-2 margin.
- Three straight base hits by Hayward, Lutz and Martin tacked on one run in the fifth.
- Lutz and Martin singled in the seventh, and Martin's stolen base left runners on second and third. Lutz touched home on a pickoff of Martin, extending the lead to 9-2.
- Carter was hit by a pitch to start the top half of the ninth and was lifted for sophomore pinch runner Brett Coyle. Consecutive base hits by Hayward and Lutz scored one run, and a wild pitch plated a second, push the advantage to 11-2.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
- Lutz was 4-for-5 with a home run, three RBI and two runs scored. Hayward went 4-for-5 and scored three times.
- Senior Matt Lawler worked 6.0 innings and gave up two runs (one earned) and four hits while striking out six (3-0).
- Freshman Pat Pantoliano spun 2.0 shutout innings and scattered one hit and a walk while striking out two. Senior Justin Grippo struck out two of the three batters he faced during the ninth.
UP NEXT:
- William Paterson hosts the Scarlet Raiders Friday, April 15, at 3:30 p.m.
FOLLOW THE PIONEERS: