WAYNE, N.J. – The William Paterson baseball team (19-9, 5-3 NJAC) scored early and often, building a 7-1 third-inning advantage en route to a 14-4 victory April 15 against Rutgers-Newark (12-12, 1-6 NJAC).
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Senior third baseman Colin Lombardo led off with a double over the center fielder's head and graduate student first baseman Carson Weis followed with a blast over the left-field fence, his second homer of the year, for a 2-0 WP first-inning lead.
- The Pioneers tacked three more on to their lead during the home half of the second. Senior center fielder Justin Grippo started the inning with a single up the middle and senior shortstop Chris Liriano was hit by a pitch before a fly ball left runners on the corners. Weis singled in Grippo and senior left fielder Steve Yelin's double on the left-field line drove in Liriano and Weis, making it a 5-0 score.
- A double, wild pitch and sacrifice fly got the Scarlet Raiders on the board in the third, 5-1.
- Senior catcher Dylan Habeeb drew a leadoff walk and Liriano hit a two-out pitch deep to left, extending the lead to 7-1 after three innings.
- A leadoff walk and a two-out double allowed Rutgers-Newark to score once during the top of the fifth inning.
- WP exploded for a six-run fifth. Senior right fielder Vinnie Martin started the inning with a base on balls, Habeeb singled through the right side and sophomore second baseman Jake Lutz sent a run-scoring base hit into right. Grippo's infield single scored a run, Lombardo walked to load the bags, and Weis sent a two-run double to left-center field. A pair of wild pitches allowed two more runners to scamper home and the Pioneers owned a 13-2 edge.
- William Paterson added one run during the bottom of the sixth inning as Lutz doubled to right field, Grippo walked, Lombardo singled to shortstop and Weis lifted a sac fly to right.
- A pair of errors helped the Scarlet Raiders score twice in the eighth.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
- Weis posted a 3-for-4 day with a double, home run, six RBI and three runs scored.
- Liriano went 2-for-4 and added a homer, two RBI and three runs scored. Grippo, Lutz and Lombardo each contributed two-hit efforts.
- Senior Jordan Manne surrendered two runs on three hits and five walks, striking out three during 5.0 innings as the starter (3-1).
- Sophomore Pat Warburton worked the final 4.0 innings for his first career save, allowing two unearned runs, four hits and one walk while collecting three strikeouts.
UP NEXT:
- William Paterson plays a doubleheader at Stockton Saturday, April 16, at 11:30 a.m.
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