WAYNE, N.J. – The William Paterson baseball team (18-11, 5-9 NJAC) dropped a pair of decisions to visiting Rowan (22-7, 11-2 NJAC), 14-6 and 14-5, April 18.
GAME ONE
The Pioneers forged a 4-4 tie in the sixth, but the Profs pulled away for a 14-6 opening win.
Back-to-back William Paterson miscues led to Rowan runs in the top of the first inning. Junior Eric Oliver was hit by a pitch, then stole second and advanced to third on a throwing error by the Pioneers' catcher. Oliver was plated by a fielding error by the third baseman that allowed designated hitter Casey Grimes to reach base safely. Grimes crossed home plate on a double by junior Steven Todd, and a single to left-center field by right fielder Ryan Pavik scored another run, giving the Profs a 3-0 advantage.
Rowan tacked on another run in the top of the second. Senior Nick Kreiger laced a single into right center, then later scored after back-to-back singles by Grimes and third baseman Kevin McMenamin.
Junior third baseman K.C. Abel (Wayne, N.J./Wayne Valley) led off the bottom of the fourth inning, reaching base on a fielding error by the Profs. Abel advanced to second on a single down the left-field line by junior right fielder Jimmy Kenny (Fairfield, N.J./West Essex Regional), and later scored on a single to center from junior shortstop Victor Sanchez (Haverstraw, N.Y./North Rockland) to cut the Rowan lead to 4-1.
Abel led off the bottom of the sixth inning with a single that hugged the left-field line, and he advanced to second on a base hit that dropped into left field off the bat of junior designated hitter Jordan Aughey (Wanaque, N.J./Lakeland Regional). A Mike Knauf (Manalapan, N.J./Manalapan) single up the middle plated Abel, and Sanchez sent a base hit into right field to drive in Aughey. A double to left-center field by graduate student AJ Flores (West Orange, N.J./West Orange) then knotted the score, 4-4.
Rowan responded in the top of the seventh with three runs. Back-to-back singles and a triple by junior Evan Hughes plated two more runs for the Profs, then catcher Greg Meyers dropped a single into left field to put Rowan ahead, 7-4. Hughes singled again in the top of the eighth inning, plating Pavlik to make it an 8-4 margin.
In the top of the ninth, the Pioneers allowed three homers for a total of six Rowan runs.
Flores led off the bottom half of the inning with a single, junior left fielder Tyler Gargulio (Paramus, N.J./Paramus) knocked a triple into right field to drive in Flores, and Abel singled through the right side to make the final score 14-6.
Flores and Garguilo were both 3-for-5 with an RBI and run scored.
Senior starter Ryan Monaghan (Bergenfield, N.J./Bergenfield) surrendered four runs, one earned, on five hits and struck out one. Freshman Corey Martinez (River Edge, N.J./River Dell Regional) suffered the loss (2-1), allowing three runs on six hits and striking out two. Classmate Bryan Kopko (Colonia, N.J./Colonia) tossed 1.0 inning of one-hit ball, and junior Jon Bujtas (Boonton, N.J./Seton Hall Prep) surrendered seven runs on seven hits in 1.0 inning of relief. Junior Cavan Penberthy (Bloomfield, N.J./Bloomfield) gave up two hits and struck out one to finish the game.
Pavlik was 4-for-6 with an RBI and two runs scored for the Profs, and Hughes finished 4-for-6 with a double, triple and three RBI.
Senior Ryan Easterday improved to 4-1 for Rowan, allowing four runs, three earned, on 11 hits in 7.0 innings of work. Reliever Brad Machinski tossed 1.0 inning, striking out one, and senior Matt Nelson closed the game, allowing two runs on four hits in 1.0 inning.
GAME TWO
Rowan built an early 11-0 lead en route to a 14-5 closing victory.
Rowan put up five runs in the first frame. A bases-loaded single by McMenamin plated the first run for the Profs, and a fielder's choice error by the Pioneers allowed the second run to come across the plate. A single through the right side by Pavlik scored another run, and Hughes lined a ball into right field to make the score 5-0.
Oliver scored on a single up the middle by McMenamin in the top of the second inning, and Pavlik collected an RBI on a fly ball to right field. Catcher Stephen Petriello doubled to left center for two more runs, and a Hughes single pushed another run across the plate. A Mike Ras sac fly then gave Rowan an 11-0 advantage.
A double by Steven Todd followed by an RBI-groundout by Pavlik extended the score to 13-0 in the top half of the third.
Freshman second baseman Rob Eggert (South Plainfield, N.J./South Plainfield) led off the Pioneer half of the third inning with a single through the right side. Flores reached on a fielding error by the second baseman, but was later erased on a fielder's choice off the bat of Gargulio. Garguilo advanced to second on a wild pitch, and two runs were scored on a single down the right-field line by Abel to cut the deficit, 13-2.
Sanchez led off the bottom of the fourth with a single up the middle, then advanced to second on a failed pickoff attempt. Eggert reached on a wild-pitch strikeout, which allowed Sanchez to go to third. A single to center by Flores scored Sanchez, and a double down the left-field line from Abel plated two more runs to make the score 13-5.
Grimes led off the fifth inning with a double that bounced off the top of the center-field fence. McMenamin followed up with a double of his own, scoring Grimes to stretch the Rowan lead to 14-5.
Abel finished 3-for-4 at the plate with a double and four RBI.
Junior starter Jon Padilla (Elizabeth, N.J./Elizabeth) allowed five runs on four hits without recording an out (0-1). Classmate Frankie Colasante (Paramus, N.J./Paramus) surrendered four runs on five hits in 1.0 inning, and senior Joe Moran (Wharton, N.J./Morris Hills) gave up five runs on seven hits in 3.0 innings of work. Junior Mitch D'Amato (Edison, N.J./Edison) allowed just two hits over 4.0 innings, while freshman Troy Sigrist (Bayville, N.J./Central Regional) tossed the last inning, striking out one.
Grimes paced the Profs at the plate with a 4-for-6 effort, posting a double and four runs scored.
Senior southpaw Ryan Sharkey allowed five runs, four earned, on 10 hits and struck out six as the starter for Rowan (6-0). Junior Andrew Lysy tossed the final 4.0 scoreless innings, scattering three hits with two strikeouts and a pair of walks for his second save.
William Paterson will host Purchase Tuesday, April 21, at 3:30 p.m.
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