WAYNE, N.J. – William Paterson (8-11-1) used a five-run rally in the sixth inning to help propel itself to an 11-7 home victory against Centenary (13-9) April 9.
Freshman second baseman Nick Daniele started the contest with a double to right and sophomore left fielder Nick Koffel singled through the right side before junior shortstop Joe Forcellini doubled them in for a quick 2-0 lead. Senior right fielder Mike Crowe added an RBI-double before the inning was over, and the Cyclones were ahead, 3-0.
WP answered with four runs of its own during the home half of the first. Walks to sophomore shortstop K.C. Abel (Wayne, N.J./Wayne Hills) and senior first baseman Trevor Haughney (Old Bridge, N.J./Old Bridge) and a Jimmy Kenny (Fairfield, N.J./West Essex Regional) single to left loaded the bases for sophomore designated hitter Alex Derner (River Edge, N.J./River Dell Regional), who sent a one-out single to right-center field to drive in the Pioneers' first run. Bases-loaded walks issued to freshman catcher Mike Knauf (Manalapan, N.J./Manalapan) drove and freshman third baseman Chris Santaniello (Wayne, N.J./Wayne Valley) forced in two more runs, and an Alex Bogart (West Milford, N.J./West Milford) sac fly nudged William Paterson ahead by a 4-3 count.
The lead was short lived, as Centenary crossed the plate three times during the top of the second inning, using three walks, a Forcellini RBI-single and Crowe's two-run double to right field for a 6-4 edge.
The Pioneers took control with a five-run sixth inning, thanks to RBI-singles by Kenny and Derner, a two-run double off the bat of Knauf and an RBI-triple from Santaniello, for a 9-6 lead.
The Cyclones scratched out a run during the top half of the seventh when junior catcher Dave Raifsnider hit a one-out double to left, moved up a base via an infield single and touched home after a groundout to first, getting to within two at 9-7, but William Paterson gave itself some breathing room with two scores during the home half of the frame. Sophomore left fielder Tyler Garguilo (Paramus, N.J./Paramus) led off with a single to right, advanced to second due to a passed ball and then advanced to third when a pickoff throw sailed into center field. Freshman center fielder Mike Abate (Wayne, N.J./Wayne Hills) was then hit by a pitch and stole second before Haughney singled in Garguilo and Abate crossed the plate when Kenny hit into a fielder's choice.
Kenny finished 3-for-5 at the plate, driving in two runs and scoring twice, while Knauf finished 2-for-4, hit a double and tallied three RBI.
Sophomore Jon Padilla (Elizabeth, N.J./Elizabeth) started and was charged with six runs on six hits, striking out one and walking three during 1.2 innings. Sophomore Mike Sasso (West Orange, N.J./Montclair Kimberley) picked up the relief victory during his appearance on the hill for the Pioneers, giving up two hits and a run in 4.2 innings, posting three strikeouts and one base on balls. Sophomore Cavan Penberthy (Bloomfield, N.J./Bloomfield) earned the save (one), scattering three hits over 2.2 innings.
Crowe was 2-for-3 with a pair of doubles and three RBI for Centenary, and Forcellini went 2-for-5 and drove in three runs. Junior Edward Casiano was one of seven Cyclone pitchers, taking the loss (0-1) after surrendering four hits and five runs in 0.2 inning.
William Paterson will host The College of New Jersey Thursday, April 10, at 3:30 p.m.
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