WAYNE, N.J. – Five Pioneers had multi-hit efforts as the William Paterson baseball team (3-1) rolled to a 12-1 home victory against Utica (0-1) March 4.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Junior center fielder Jake Lutz's fly ball just tucked inside the left foul pole as it cleared the fence, handing WP a 1-0 first-inning edge. Graduate student Steve Yelin followed with a double off the top of the wall in left center, and two batters later graduate student first baseman Carson Weis singled him in, making it a 2-0 score.
- Sophomore third baseman Tom Radigan's solo shot to left was his first home run as a Pioneer, extending the lead to 3-0 after two innings.
- WP added two more in the fourth. Junior left fielder Noah Cabassa had an infield hit and Radigan walked before a wild pitch advanced them each 90 feet. Sophomore shortstop Tyler Ruban sent an RBI-single through the left side, and a passed ball on ball four to Lutz allowed Radigan to sprint home, pushing it to a 5-0 advantage.
- Utica used a two-out hit by pitch, single and double to score once during the top of the fifth inning.
- William Paterson answered during the home half of the same frame. Weis sent a one-out pitch up the middle for a base hit, Cabassa singled to left and Radigan walked, setting up a bases-loaded hit by pitch for sophomore designated hitter Ruven Pino.
- The Pioneers finished the scoring with a six-run eighth. Ruban led off with a base hit to center field before being replaced by freshman pinch runner Matthew DiGirolamo, followed by a single through the left side by graduate student second baseman Colin Lombardo and a Lutz flyout that left runners on the corners. Yelin singled in one run and graduate student right fielder Dan Carter singled in another before a Weis two-run double. Graduate student pinch hitter Steven DiGirolamo drew a walk, as did Radigan, and freshman pinch hitter Dylan Santos' single and error allowed two runners to touch home for the final 12-1 margin.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
- Weis went 3-for-5 with a double, three RBI and two runs scored.
- Ruban, Cabassa, Lombardo and Yelin all had two-hit efforts.
- Senior Darmany Rivas struck out eight during his 6.0 innings as the starter, allowing one run on three hits and a walk (2-0).
- Graduate student Matt Lawler spun 2.0 perfect innings of relief, posting two strikeouts.
- Freshman Chris Quartuccio made his debut on the mound, striking out two of the four batters he faced while giving up one hit.
UP NEXT:
- William Paterson will begin play at the RussMatt Central Florida Invitational Saturday, March 11, against UMass Boston at 6:00 p.m.
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