AUBURNDALE, FLA. – William Paterson (4-1) rallied from an early deficit, handing No. 7 Birmingham-Southern (14-1) its first loss of the season, 8-2, in baseball action March 16 at the Central Florida Invitational.
Junior left fielder Tyler Garguilo (Paramus, N.J./Paramus) was 3-for-5 with an RBI, stolen base and two runs scored, while graduate student designated hitter AJ Flores (West Orange, N.J./West Orange) and freshman first baseman Anthony Hoagland (Dumont, N.J./Dumont) both finished 2-for-5 with three runs-batted-in. Sophomore starter Mike Sasso (West Orange, N.J./Montclair Kimberley) pitched 6.0 innings of two-run ball for the victory on the bump.
A two-out double and single staked the Panthers to a 1-0 first-inning lead, and BSC added another single run in the bottom of the second thanks to two walks and an RBI-single.
The Pioneers answered with a three-run fourth. Garguilo sent a one-out single to left, followed by a base hit up the middle from junior third baseman K.C. Abel (Wayne, N.J./Wayne Valley). After a flyout, Flores delivered Garguilo with a single to center field, and he and Abel moved up a base via a wild pitch. Hoagland drove in both with a base hit into left for a 3-2 lead.
WP then took control with four two-out runs during the top half of the fifth. Sophomore center fielder Mike Abate (Wayne, N.J./Wayne Hills) reached on an infield single, Garguilo put a base hit into left field and Abel walked. A bases-loaded wild pitch plated Abate, junior right fielder Jimmy Kenny (Fairfield, N.J./West Essex Regional) was hit by a pitch to once again load up the bases, and Flores drove in two scores with his base hit to center field. Hoagland's RBI-single to center sent Kenny home and made it a 7-2 margin.
William Paterson added an insurance run in the sixth inning as junior second baseman Justin Ferreira (Elmwood Park, N.J./Elmwood Park Memorial) walked, stole second and scored thanks to Garguilo's base hit into center field.
Abate went 2-for-5, stole a base and scored a run. Sasso (2-0) scattered seven hits over his 6.0 innings, striking out five and walking three. Junior Mitch D'Amato (Edison, N.J./Edison) earned a three-inning save (one), allowing two hits while registering a strikeout.
Three Panthers each had two hits, and starter Miller Bonds suffered the loss (0-1), giving up six runs and six hits over 4.2 innings.
William Paterson will play a doubleheader against Ripon Tuesday, March 17, at 1:00 p.m.
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