Wayne, N.J. – William Paterson (16-8-1, 5-2 NJAC) suffered just its second loss in a 15-game span, dropping a 9-3 baseball decision to visiting Ramapo (17-6, 3-4 NJAC) April 14 at Jeff Albies Field.
Ramapo scored first with a single run in the top of the fourth inning. Sophomore designated hitter Matthew Hancock (Old Lyme, Conn./Xavier) reached on a two-out single up the middle, and was followed by a ball hit hard by senior catcher Peter Dacenko (Toms River, N.J./Toms River East) to the outfield. Pioneer left fielder Scott Hansen (Saddle Brook, N.J./Don Bosco Prep) nearly came up with the diving catch, but the ball squirted away from him and Hancock made the turn for home. Hansen alertly hit cutoff man Anthony Dorio (Lyndhurst, N.J./Lyndhurst), who threw to third baseman A.J. Flores (West Orange, N.J./West Orange) to get Dacenko out at the bag for the third out of the inning, but not before Hancock touched the plate and handed the Roadrunners a 1-0 edge.
William Paterson answered with a single run during the home half of the frame. Junior first baseman Adam Derner (River Edge, N.J./River Dell Regional) started things off with a double to left-center field and was sacrificed to third by Hansen. Junior outfielder Rob Somers (West Long Branch, N.J./Shore Regional) then lined a ball back up the middle, just missing Ramapo starting pitcher Matt Jenisch (Pompton Plains, N.J./Pequannock), to drive in Derner and knot the score at 1-1.
The Roadrunners crossed home plate twice in the fifth. A Pat Driscoll (Sparta, N.J./Sparta) walk was followed by a flyout for the second out of the inning, but junior left fielder Kevin Knox (Matawan, N.J./Matawan) doubled to left-center to score Driscoll. Knox advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored via a Nicholas DiGirolamo (Dumont, N.J./Dumont) single to short, handing the visitors a 3-1 lead.
William Paterson got one run back during the home half of the fifth. Freshman second baseman Scott Ptaszynski (Wharton, N.J./Morris Hills) laced a one-out single back up the middle, and Flores followed with a RBI-double over the center fielder's head.
Three Ramapo runners scored in the top of the seventh. Outfielder Lee Rozins (Bedford, N.Y./Fox Lane) singled to lead off, Knox chopped a grounder over the WP third baseman's head, and DiGirolamo walked to load the bases with zero outs. A popup gave the Pioneers their first out of the inning, but junior first baseman Dan Moreno (Cranford, N.J./Cranford) sent a line drive up the left-field line, a double that cleared the bases and made it a 6-2 margin.
Dorio's base hit to right-center field was enough to drive in Ptaszynski from second base and trim Ramapo's lead to 6-3 after seven innings. Ramapo rallied with two outs in the eighth, pushing across a pair of runners. Rozins walked and stole second, Knox tripled to left and DiGirolamo singled through the left side for an 8-3 score.
Ramapo tacked on a single ninth-inning run when Driscoll's squeeze bunt was successful, scoring Hancock from third base.
Ptaszynski was 2-for-4 with a pair of runs scored, and Flores went 2-for-5 with a double and RBI. Senior Kevin Wieme (Bayville, N.J./Paramus) pitched 6.0 innings, allowing four runs on seven hits, walking four and striking out three (2-2). Junior Dan Alcala (Totowa, N.J./Passaic Valley Regional) threw 2.0 innings, giving up four hits and four runs, and freshman Pete Savastano (Wayne, N.J./Wayne Valley) surrendered one run on two hits in the ninth.
Jenisch pitched a complete game (2-1) for the Roadrunners, striking out five and walking three while giving up seven hits and three runs. Knox was 4-for-5 with a double, triple, two RBI and three runs scored. Hancock went 2-for-3 and added a double and two runs scored, while DiGirolamo was 2-for-4 and drove in a pair of runners.
Ramapo will host William Paterson Friday, April 15. First pitch will be at 3:30 p.m.