UNION, N.J. – Third-seeded William Paterson (30-13, 12-6 NJAC) concluded its perfect run through the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) Baseball Tournament, seizing the trophy with a resounding 10-4 victory against fourth-seeded Kean (31-13, 12-6 NJAC) May 10.

The Pioneers secured their 13^th NJAC Tournament title in program history, and their first in 25 years (1959, 1982, 1983, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2022). WP also earns the NJAC's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament, and will return to the national stage for the first time since 1999 (1977, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2022).

One of the nation's most dominant programs in the 1990s, William Paterson won the 1992 and 1996 NCAA Division III national titles and reached the College World Series on seven occasions overall, including four within an eight-year period (1982, 1985, 1988, 1992, 1995, 1996, 1999).

The 2022 NCAA Tournament field will be announced Monday, May 16, at 12:00 p.m. on https://www.ncaa.com/. 

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• The Pioneers took a 1-0 second-inning lead with a leadoff single to left center by senior catcher Steve Yelin, a base on balls issued to sophomore second baseman Jake Lutz, a sacrifice bunt by senior center fielder Justin Grippo and a run-scoring balk.
• WP made it 4-0 during the home half of the third. Senior left fielder Dan Carter hit a one-out home run down the right-field line, graduate student first baseman Carson Weis sent a two-out single into left field and Yelin launched a homer over the fence in left.
• The Cougars got on the scoreboard with two in the fourth, putting together two walks, a sac bunt, an RBI-groundout and a run-scoring base hit.
• William Paterson extended its lead back to four runs with two scores in the sixth. Weis led off with a double into the left-field corner, and after a groundout, Lutz's single through the left side left runners on the corners. Grippo's suicide squeeze plated Weis, and freshman shortstop Tom Radigan sent Lutz home with a triple into left-center field, making it a 6-2 game.
• Yelin's second home run of the day, this one down the left-field line, pushed WP's lead to 7-2 after seven innings.
• Kean's two-run homer in the eighth cut the Pioneers' advantage to 7-4.
• WP gave itself some breathing room with a three-run bottom of the eighth, as Grippo was issued a leadoff free pass and stole second, Radigan bunted for a hit, senior third baseman Colin Lombardo singled in Grippo,  senior right fielder Vinnie Martin plated Radigan with a base hit, and Carter sent a sacrifice fly to center to allow Lombardo to trot home.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

• Yelin was 3-for-4 with a pair of homers, three RBI and three runs scored. Carter finished 2-for-4 while adding a home run and two RBI.
• Weis went 2-for-4 and added a double and two runs, while Radigan was 2-for-4 and collected a triple, RBI and run.
• Senior Matt Lawler spun 7.0 innings of four-run ball, scattering four hits and four walks while posting two strikeouts (5-2).
• Freshman Neel Telidevara worked the final 2.0 innings and gave up two hits while striking out two batters, including the last out of the game.
• WP went 4-0 during the double-elimination tournament, handing Kean its only two losses of the tourney with a 5-4 walk-off result May 3 during the first round and the 10-4 decision during the finals.
• The Pioneers registered their 30^th victory of the season for the 13th time in program history (1982, 1983, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1992, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2022).

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