WAYNE, N.J. – The William Paterson baseball team (5-6) suffered a 6-2 loss against Stevens (9-4) during its home opener March 27 at Jeff Albies Field.
The Ducks struck first when senior catcher Curt Lowenstein reached on a leadoff error, advanced to third thanks to a single and scored via an RBI-groundout from sophomore second baseman Jayson Yano, handing Stevens a 1-0 first-inning lead.
Stevens tacked on three more runs during the top half of the second. Base hits by freshman pitcher Zeph Walters and freshman first baseman Nolan Bennett were followed by a double to right center by freshman center fielder Bret Viola, plating Walters. A Marc Calleo sacrifice fly to center scored Bennett, and sophomore third baseman Nicholas Sieber drilled a run-scoring single up the middle, making it a 4-0 contest.
The Pioneers broke through for a single run during the home half of the fourth. Senior designated hitter Trevor Haughney (Old Bridge, N.J./Old Bridge) led off with a double just inside the right-field line, and after a flyout, sophomore first baseman Mike Sasso (West Orange, N.J./Montclair Kimberley) launched a double off the left-field fence.
Junior left fielder Ryan Mannello's sac fly allowed junior right fielder Brian Hennelly to score, and Bennett singled in Yano for a 6-1 Stevens edge by the middle of the fifth. With the bases loaded and one out in the bottom of the sixth, sophomore right fielder Jimmy Kenny's (Fairfield, N.J./West Essex Regional) fielder's choice resulted in Haughney touching home plate, making it 6-2.
Sasso was 1-for-2 with an RBI-double and two walks for William Paterson. Senior Jake Menzo (Ramsey, N.J./Ramsey) allowed four runs (three earned) and five hits in 4.0 innings, striking out two and walking one (1-2). Junior Kevin Cowan (Elizabeth, N.J./Roselle Catholic) gave up three hits and two run during 1.0 inning of work, while sophomore Frankie Colasante (Paramus, N.J./Paramus) struck out a hitter and walked another in 1.0 inning. Junior Joe Moran (Wharton, N.J./Morris Hills) registered two strikeouts in 1.1 innings, and classmate Tom Gaccione (Little Falls, N.J./Passaic Valley Regional) tossed 0.2 inning. Sophomore Jon Padilla (Elizabeth, N.J./Elizabeth) finished out the game, issuing two ninth-inning walks.
Bennett and Hennelly were both 2-for-4 for the Ducks. Walters (2-1) gave up a run on three hits, striking out three and walking two in 5.0 innings on the hill. Sophomore Daniel McIntyre, junior Gary Boardman, sophomore Ryan Patterson and senior Dan Allen contributed 1.0 inning apiece.
William Paterson will start New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) play Saturday, March 29, with a doubleheader at Richard Stockton at 11:30 a.m.
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