WAYNE, N.J. – William Paterson (6-10, 1-2 NJAC) nearly pulled off a doubleheader split against visiting No. 10/15 Rowan (14-4, 3-1 NJAC) April 5, but a ninth-inning, second-game rally allowed the Profs to secure the sweep, 12-1 and 6-5.
Game One
Rowan broke the game open with a six-run third inning en route to a 12-1 opening win.
Junior first baseman Rich Powelson drew a leadoff walk and advanced to second via a wild pitch before senior catcher Connor Grant doubled him in for the game's first run. Junior left fielder Nick Kreiger then singled up the middle and Grant attempted to score on the play but was called out. A Ryan Pavlik base hit put runners on the corners, and a wild pitch and a two-run single by junior shortstop Ryan Williams made it a 3-0 Rowan margin. Senior second baseman Mark Benak's double to right center drove in Williams, and junior third baseman Kevin McMenamin was issued a two-out walk, followed by a run-scoring single off the bat of senior center fielder Eric Perez. With runners on the corners, the Profs sent Perez and he was eventually tagged out after a rundown, but before the out was recorded McMenamin touched home plate, making it a 6-0 score.
Kreiger was walked with two outs during the top half of the fourth and scored thanks to a Pavlik double and error on the play, extending it to a 7-0 margin. The Pioneers got on the scoreboard during the bottom of the same inning. Sophomore right fielder Jimmy Kenny (Fairfield, N.J./West Essex Regional) hit a one-out single to right-center field, moved to second on a wild pitch and tagged up and advanced to third via a flyout. Freshman catcher Mike Knauf (Manalapan, N.J./Manalapan) drove him in with a base hit to center.
Rowan tacked on five more in the sixth, highlighted by Benak's two-run homer just inside the right foul pole.
Seven different Pioneers accounted for WP's seven hits. Junior Kevin Cowan (Elizabeth, N.J./Roselle Catholic) fell to 1-2, giving up nine hits and nine runs (eight earned) during 5.1 innings of action, walking four and registering one strikeout. Sophomore Mitch D'Amato (Edison, N.J./Edison) gave up three runs on four hits over 1.2 innings, sophomore Cavan Penberthy (Bloomfield, N.J./Bloomfield) struck out one and surrendered a hit in 1.0 inning, and sophomore Dave Marcelino Englewood, N.J./Paramus Catholic) pitched a scoreless ninth, giving up a hit.
Pavlik was 4-for-5 with a double, RBI and two runs scored, and Benak went 3-for-5 with a two-run home run and three RBI for the Profs. Junior Ryan Easterday improved to 2-0, scattering seven hits over 7.0 innings, allowing a run and striking out three. Sophomore Richie Suarez and junior Johnny Dunn combined for 2.0 innings of scoreless relief.
Game Two
Six lead changes marked a see-saw night cap, one eventually captured by Rowan, 6-5.
Senior third baseman Rob Pasternak (South Plainfield, N.J./South Plainfield) led off the bottom of the first inning with a single through the right side, and after senior second baseman Scott Ptaszynski (Wharton, N.J./Morris Hills) successfully sacrificed, sophomore shortstop K.C. Abel (Wayne, N.J./Wayne Valley) doubled down the right-field line to hand WP an early 1-0 lead.
Junior designated hitter Casey Grimes was walked to start the top of the second, and thanks to base hits by Perez and Grant, the Profs tied the score at 1-1.
William Paterson jumped back ahead during the home half of the second. Freshman center fielder Mike Abate (Wayne, N.J./Wayne Hills) reached on a fielder's choice, advanced to second via a failed pickoff attempt, moved to third when freshman right fielder Mike Rowe (Cedar Grove, N.J./Cedar Grove) singled up the middle and scored when there was a throwing error on the play, making it a 2-1 score.
An error and walk put Pavlik and Williams aboard for Rowan to start the third inning, and Benak doubled to center field to nudge the Profs ahead, 3-2.
Singles by freshman catcher Brady Pevny (West Milford, N.J./West Milford) and Rowe as well as a Pasternak walk loaded the bases for the Pioneers during the home half of the fourth, and Abel singled through the right side to plate two runners and make it a 4-3 WP advantage.
Rowan again evened the score, this time in the fifth when Williams started the inning by being hit by a pitch, stole second and sprinted home following a McMenamin single to right field.
Rowe was issued a base on balls to start the bottom half of the sixth, was sacrificed to second by Pasternak and trotted to third after a flyout. A two-out wild pitch got away from the catcher, and Rowe was able to race home in time for the go-ahead run, 5-4.
Pavlik started the Prof ninth-inning rally with a base hit down the left-field line before stealing second. Williams sent a single into center field, plating Pavlik, and the throw home allowed the go-ahead run to move into scoring position. A fly ball resulted in the first out of the inning and Williams moving 90 feet to third base, and after Grimes was intentionally walked, McMenamin lifted a sacrifice fly into center field and handed Rowan a 6-5 lead.
Abel finished 2-for-5 with a double and three RBI, and Rowe went 2-for-2 and scored twice.
Junior Ryan Monaghan (Bergenfield, N.J./Bergenfield) allowed four runs (three earned) and five hits during 6.0 innings as the starter, striking out four and walking two. Classmate Tom Gaccione (Little Falls, N.J./Passaic Valley Regional) took the loss (1-1) as he was responsible for three hits and two runs during 2.0 official innings. Junior Joe Moran (Wharton, N.J./Morris Hills) came on with a runner on base and a tied score in the ninth, and he was charged with a walk and a strikeout during his 1.0 inning.
Benak was the only Prof with a multi-hit effort, going 2-for-4 and driving in two runs. Junior Ryan Sharkey surrendered eight hits and four runs, three of them earned, in 3.2 innings for the Profs, walking three and striking out one. Dunn struck out three and walked three during his 3.2 innings, allowing a run, and senior Nick Henderson received the win (1-0) with 0.2 inning of perfect relief. Senior Carlos Ruiz earned his first save with a scoreless ninth inning.
William Paterson will play a doubleheader at Richard Stockton Sunday, April 6, at 11:30 a.m.
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