SANFORD, Fla. – The William Paterson baseball team (4-1) opened the RussMatt Central Florida Invitational with a 9-3 victory over UMass Boston (3-2) March 11.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Graduate student Dan Carter drew a one-out walk in the second inning and after advancing to third on a single by sophomore Tom Radigan, he came around to score on a fielder's choice to give William Paterson the early 1-0 advantage.
• UMass Boston grabbed a 2-1 lead in the top of the third, but the Pioneers had an answer in the bottom half of the frame. Graduate student Colin Lombardo belted a double to right field to lead off the inning and scored two batters later on an RBI single to right by senior Steve Yelin. The River Edge, N.J., native later scored on a Carter RBI single to right that put the Pioneers ahead, 3-2.  
• In the fourth, William Paterson had two runners in scoring position with two outs before Yelin recorded an infield single that plated a run and extended the lead to two (4-2).
• The Pioneers broke the game open in the fifth with five runs on three hits. Carter opened the frame with a single to center and after William Paterson loaded the bases, sophomore Tyler Ruban drove in one on a single before Lombardo plated two more on a double. One more run came around to score on a costly throwing error by the Beacons and the Pioneers extended the lead to seven (9-2).

 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

• Senior Darmany Rivas improved to 3-0 on the mound after striking out eight and allowing three runs in 5.1 innings of work.
• In the leadoff spot, Lombardo picked up three hits with three RBI and two runs scored.
• Yelin recorded a two-hit outing with two RBI and a run scored.
• Carter scored twice and logged a pair of hits with an RBI.

 
UP NEXT:

• The Pioneers return to action at the RussMatt Central Florida Invitational Sunday, March 12, for a 1:30 p.m. meeting with Salve Regina in Auburndale, Fla.