MONTCLAIR, N.J. – The William Paterson baseball team (6-14, 1-2 NJAC) owned an early five-run lead, but No. 20/18 Montclair State (20-4, 2-1 NJAC) rallied late for an 8-5 home victory April 4.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Junior designated hitter Connor Luckie started the top of the second inning with a walk and junior catcher Austin Jack followed with a double to left. Junior first baseman Gio Aresta plated Luckie with a sacrifice fly to right field, then junior right fielder Christian Hay delivered Jack with an RBI-single through the left side. After a flyout, junior second baseman Tom Radigan sent a base hit through the left side, then back-to-back errors allowed three Pioneers to touch home for a 5-0 lead.
- A two-out single and a pair of WP errors allowed Montclair State to score twice, making it a 5-2 game after two innings.
- Senior starter Darmany Rivas sat the Red Hawks down in order in the third, fourth and sixth innings, and worked around leadoff singles in the first and fifth frames.
- Rivas ran into trouble in the seventh. Two walks and a bunt single loaded the bags, and after a strikeout for the first out of the inning, a two-run double to right and a sac fly knotted the score at 5-5.
- MSU loaded the bases during the bottom of the eighth inning, and a two-run double and RBI-single gave the Red Hawks an 8-5 edge.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
- Hay finished 1-for-3 with an RBI and run scored. Jack went 1-for-3 while producing a double and run.
- Rivas was charged with five runs (three earned), six hits, two walks and three strikeouts in 6.2 innings.
- Junior Nick Diaz worked 0.2 inning, giving up one run and a base on balls (0-1).
- Freshman Robert Nathan tossed the final 0.2 inning and allowed two runs on three hits and a walk, posting one strikeout.
UP NEXT:
- William Paterson hosts the Red Hawks Friday, April 5, at 3:30 p.m.
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