WINTER HAVEN, FLA. – Six Pioneers had multi-hit efforts as William Paterson (3-0) rolled to a 17-7 baseball victory against Keene State (1-2) March 14 at the Central Florida Invitational.
Junior third baseman K.C. Abel (Wayne, N.J./Wayne Valley) was 4-for-5 with a double, three RBI and three runs scored. Junior right fielder Jimmy Kenny (Fairfield, N.J./West Essex Regional) finished 3-for-4, posting three doubles, four RBI and three runs scored.
Once again WP put together a big first inning, crossing the plate five times. Sophomore center fielder Mike Abate (Wayne, N.J./Wayne Hills) doubled to start the contest and junior left fielder Tyler Garguilo (Paramus, N.J./Paramus) tripled him in, followed by an Abel RBI-single. Three straight Owl errors allowed another runner to touch home, sophomore catcher Brady Pevny (West Milford, N.J./West Milford) hit a sacrifice fly and junior shortstop Victor Sanchez (Haverstraw, N.Y./North Rockland) drove in the final run with an infield single.
Keene State used two singles and an error to get one run back in the bottom of the first, but the Pioneers answered with a pair of second-inning scores as Kenny hit a two-out double and was driven in by a base hit from graduate student designated hitter AJ Flores (West Orange, N.J./West Orange).
William Paterson made it an 11-1 lead by the middle of the third. Sanchez provided a leadoff single and stole second and third before a Rob Eggert (South Plainfield, N.J./South Plainfield) base on balls. Abate singled in Sanchez and Garguilo walked to load the bases for Abel, whose walk forced across Eggert. Kenny's sac fly and Flores' fielder's choice provided the other RBI.
An Abel two-bagger and Flores RBI-single made it a 12-1 score during the top half of the fifth inning. A single, five walks and an error allowed the Owls to score four times during the home half of the sixth.
Kenny doubled in Abate, who led off the seventh with a base hit, and a later error created a 14-5 score.
Abate started the eighth with a double, and an error and Abel RBI-single were followed by Kenny's two-run double to right field.
Keene State posted a single run during both the eighth and ninth innings to finish the scoring.
Abate went 3-for-7 with a pair of doubles, three runs scored and an RBI. Flores, Sanchez and freshman first baseman Anthony Hoagland (Dumont, N.J./Dumont) each contributed a pair of hits.
Senior Tom Gaccione (Little Falls, N.J./Passaic Valley Regional) allowed one unearned run on three hits over 5.0 innings, striking out six and walking three (1-0). Junior Cavan Penberthy (Bloomfield, N.J./Bloomfield) gave up a hit and three runs in 0.1 inning, walking two, while classmate Jon Padilla (Elizabeth, N.J./Elizabeth) surrendered an unearned run and three walks. Freshman Mario Danza (Monroe, N.J./Monroe Twp.) picked up a save after pitching the final 3.2 innings and giving up six hits and two runs (one earned) while striking out four and walking one.
Junior first baseman Dustin Howe was 2-for-2 with an RBI and run scored for KSC. Classmate Julian Haddad took the loss (0-1), allowing six hits and seven runs (four earned) and a walk in 1.2 innings as the starter.
William Paterson will take on Framingham State Sunday, March 15, at 3:30 p.m.
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