WAYNE, N.J. – Despite six unanswered runs in the final four innings, the William Paterson baseball team (7-19, 2-6 NJAC) was unable to overcome a large deficit and ultimately fell, 12-9, to Ramapo (18-8, 7-1 NJAC) in a New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) game April 12 at Jeff Albies Field.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- The Roadrunners went ahead 3-0 in the top of the fourth following a three-run home run.
- Ramapo tacked on four more runs in the fifth to extend its lead to seven (7-0).
- In the bottom of the fifth, junior RJ Mehnert drew a leadoff walk and classmate Ruven Pino ripped a double into the gap in left center to put two Pioneers in scoring position. Sophomore Mike Novak drove them both in with a single up the right field line to pull WP within five (7-2).
- The Roadrunners loaded the bases with no outs in the sixth before plating five runs to push their lead to double figures (12-2).
- A solo home run by freshman Ty Kobylakiewicz in the bottom of the sixth made it a nine-run game (12-3) before Novak blasted a two-run homer an inning later. Kobylakiewicz then came through with an RBI single to trim the deficit to three (12-6).
- In the eighth, junior Giovanni Aresta singled and later came around to score on a costly Ramapo error. With two outs and a runner in scoring position, Novak and senior Jake Lutz recorded back-to-back RBI doubles to make it a three-run game (12-9).
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
- Novak batted 3-for-4 with a home run and a double while finishing with a career-high five RBI and two runs scored.
- Lutz logged a two-hit outing with a double, a run and an RBI.
- Koyblakiewicz went 2-for-4 with a home run, two RBI and a run scored.
- Aresta recorded a two-hit performance with a run scored.
- Junior Tom Radigan crossed home twice.
- Junior Cole McGregor pitched 4.0 innings of relief while allowing just one earned run on one hit.
UP NEXT:
- William Paterson heads to Union, N.J., Saturday, April 13, for an NJAC doubleheader at Kean with first pitch slated for 11:30 a.m.
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