WAYNE, N.J. – The William Paterson baseball team (16-9, 4-3 NJAC) built a 9-1 advantage by the second inning en route to a 19-7 home victory against Rutgers-Newark (19-8, 3-4 NJAC) April 13.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- The Pioneers crossed the plate twice during the home half of the first inning. Graduate student second baseman Colin Lombardo started the frame with a ground ball into the left-field corner for a double, followed by a groundout and two consecutive errors to score a run. Junior left fielder Noah Cabassa sent a two-out pitch into left to drive in graduate student first baseman Carson Weis, making it a 2-0 margin.
- The Scarlet Raiders got one run back in the top of the second, thanks to three singles.
- WP added seven more in the second, six on the long ball. Sophomore third baseman Ruven Pino started things off with a base hit to center field, graduate student right fielder Steven DiGirolamo had a ground-rule double to left center and Lombardo walked, loading the bases. Graduate student catcher Steve Yelin drilled a pitch over the left-center fence for a grand slam, followed by a Weis single up the middle and a two-run homer to left by graduate student designated hitter Dan Carter. Junior center fielder Jake Lutz walked and stole second, then scored on a Cabassa base hit up the middle, handing William Paterson a 9-1 lead.
- A double, single and fielder's choice added one to the Scarlet Raider tally in the top of the third.
- DiGirolamo reached on a one-out error in the fifth, stole second, advanced to third on a Lombardo flyout and scored on a Yelin base hit to center field, pushing the advantage to 10-2.
- A solo shot to start the top of the sixth, a single and two triples made it a 10-5 game.
- The Pioneers tacked on three more during the home half of the seventh. DiGirolamo drew a two-out base on balls, Lombardo doubled down the left-field line and Yelin was intentionally walked, loading the bags. Weis responded with a two-run base hit to right-center field and Carter added an RBI-single to left, extending the lead to 13-5.
- A walk, hit by pitch and base hit produced one run for Rutgers-Newark in the eighth.
- WP made it a 19-6 game during the home half of the eighth. Cabassa walked, sophomore shortstop Tyler Ruban singled and Cabassa scampered home on a wild pitch. Pino walked and DiGirolamo singled through the left side, scoring Ruban, Yelin doubled in Pino and Weis picked up an RBI with a groundout. Lutz's fly ball to center was then lost in the sun, scoring two more base runners.
- A solo home run finished the scoring during the top half of the ninth.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
- Yelin was 3-for-5 with a double, grand slam, six RBI and three runs scored. Carter finished 3-for-5 while adding a homer, three RBI and two runs, and Lombardo went 2-for-5 with a pair of doubles and four runs scored.
- Weis drove in three runs and scored twice, notching two hits, while Cabassa went 2-for-5 and plated two runners.
- Graduate student Matt Lawler pitched the first 7.0 innings, allowing five runs, 12 hits and a walk, striking out three (3-0).
- Freshman Chris Quartuccio worked 0.2 inning, surrendering a hit, run and three walks.
- Senior Dan Castaneda tossed the final 1.1 innings and gave up a run and two hits, registering two strikeouts.
UP NEXT:
- William Paterson visits Rutgers-Newark Friday, April 14, at 3:30 p.m.
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