JERSEY CITY, N.J. – A pair of four-run, eighth-inning rallies carried the William Paterson baseball team (11-16-1, 5-8-1 NJAC) to a doubleheader sweep at New Jersey City (9-19, 3-11 NJAC), 4-2 and 5-3, April 19.
Game One
Sophomore shortstop K.C. Abel's (Wayne, N.J./Wayne Hills) two-run single put the Pioneers over the top for a 4-2 opening victory.
Two walks and an error loaded the bases for the Gothic Knights during the bottom of the seventh inning, and two more errors allowed a pair of unearned runs to score and hand NJCU a 2-0 advantage.
Freshman right fielder Mike Rowe (Cedar Grove, N.J./Cedar Grove) started the eighth with a base on balls, and after a flyout, senior first baseman Trevor Haughney (Old Bridge, N.J./Old Bridge) had a base hit to the pitcher. Another infield single, this one by sophomore left fielder Jimmy Kenny (Fairfield, N.J./West Essex Regional), loaded the bases for freshman center fielder Mike Abate (Wayne, N.J./Wayne Hills), who sent a two-run single through the right side. Sophomore designated hitter Mike Sasso (West Orange, N.J./Montclair Kimberley) drove in the fourth WP run with a base hit to second base.
Abel finished 3-for-4 with a double and two RBI, and Haughney went 3-for-4 and scored a run.
Senior Josh Jensen (West Milford, N.J./West Milford) allowed four hits and two unearned runs in 6.0 innings, striking out four and walking three. Junior Kevin Cowan (Elizabeth, N.J./Roselle Catholic) improved to 2-2, tossing 3.0 scoreless innings while giving up two hits and one walk and striking out two.
Freshman left fielder Eric Giordano was 2-for-3 and scored a run for New Jersey City. Classmate Kris Fellin threw the first 7.1 innings, giving up four runs and eight hits while walking three and striking out three (2-4). Freshman Mark Petrucelli struck out two and allowed two hits during his 1.2 innings.
Game Two
Once again William Paterson had to put together a late-game rally to get past the Gothic Knights.
NJCU jumped ahead early, crossing the plate three times during the home half of the second. Two singles and an error loaded the bases with one out, and after a strikeout, junior Nicholas D'Errico sent all three runners home with his double down the left-field line.
Senior second baseman Scott Ptaszynski (Wharton, N.J./Morris Hills) started the top of the third by reaching base due to an error, and after a Rowe single, Rob Pasternak (South Plainfield, N.J./South Plainfield) sacrifice bunt and Haughney intentional walk, freshman catcher Brady Pevny (West Milford, N.J./West Milford) lifted a sac fly to left to plate the Pioneers' first run of the game.
Rowe started the eighth-inning rally with a leadoff base on balls. After a groundout, Haughney's ground-rule double drove in Rowe. A strikeout was followed by Kenny's walk and Abel's RBI-single to center, and Abel and Kenny advanced a base thanks to a throwing error on the play. A wild pitch moved Abel to third and Kenny home, providing the go-ahead run, and Abate singled in Abel to finish the scoring.
Abel and Haughney were both 2-for-4 with a RBI and run scored.
Sophomore Frankie Colasante (Paramus, N.J./Paramus) pitched 5.2 innings, allowing eight hits and three unearned runs while registering two strikeouts. Senior Jake Menzo (Ramsey, N.J./Ramsey) scattered four hits over 3.1 innings, posting a walk and strikeout (2-3).
Junior Michael Martucci and freshman Nick Ruscingno each went 3-for-4 at the plate for NJCU. Junior Kevin DeMauro allowed three runs (two earned) and five hits over 7.1 innings with three walks and two strikeouts. Martucci (0-2) gave up two runs (one earned), two hits and a pair of walks in 0.2 inning, striking out one, and Petrucelli pitched 1.0 scoreless inning of relief.
William Paterson will celebrate Senior Day Thursday, April 24, against Montclair State at 3:30 p.m.
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