WAYNE, N.J. – Junior shortstop Victor Sanchez (Haverstraw, N.Y./North Rockland) finished 2-for-4 with a double and three RBI as the William Paterson baseball team (19-9) rolled to an 8-3 victory against visiting Purchase (9-14) April 21.
The Pioneers seized control right away with a six-run first inning. Graduate student first baseman AJ Flores (West Orange, N.J./West Orange) singled up the middle and junior left fielder Tyler Garguilo (Paramus, N.J./Paramus) dropped a base hit into center field before a Mike Abate (Wayne, N.J./Wayne Hills) walk loaded the bases. Junior designated hitter K.C. Abel (Wayne, N.J./Wayne Valley) singled down the left-field line to plate the game's first run, and a base on balls for junior right fielder Jimmy Kenny (Fairfield, N.J./West Essex Regional) forced across Garguilo. Sanchez drove in three more scores with his double into the right-center gap, and throw into second skipped away and out of play, allowing Sanchez to cover the final 180 feet to the plate and make it a 6-0 lead.
Back-to-back doubles by Abel and Kenny pushed it to a 7-0 margin in the third.
The Panthers got on the board with three runs during the top of the eighth inning. Sophomore shortstop Robert Michael hit a leadoff single through the left side, then reached third base on a wild pitch and throwing error. Junior pinch hitter Matthew Chavez lifted a sacrifice fly to left, followed by base hits from sophomore third baseman Patrick Rucci, junior designated hitter Nick Kulbaba and sophomore pinch hitter Michael Tecci to load the bases. Junior catcher Anthony Bambach's foul ball was caught, but Rucci was able to score on the play for an unconventional sac fly, and sophomore right fielder Eli Sayad added an RBI-single.
Flores singled to start the bottom of the eighth, stole second and touched home after freshman left fielder Jordan Aughey (Wanaque, N.J./Lakeland Regional) sent a base hit into left.
Flores, Garguilo and Abel each contributed a pair of hits for WP. Sophomore starter Mike Sasso (West Orange, N.J./Montclair Kimberley) scattered two hits over 4.0 scoreless innings while issuing a walk (4-1), and junior Frankie Colasante (Paramus, N.J./Paramus) struck out three and walked two while allowing three hits during 3.0 scoreless innings. Classmate Jon Padilla (Elizabeth, N.J./Elizabeth) gave up three runs on five hits in 1.0 inning of work, and senior Joe Moran (Wharton, N.J./Morris Hills) had a walk and a strikeout during his 1.0 inning on the mound.
Sophomore second baseman Ryan Aponte was 2-for-4 for Purchase. Starter Jon Deacon fell to 1-1, surrendering seven hits and seven runs (six earned) over 4.0 innings, posting a strikeout and four walks. Freshman Lukas Chin gave up one run on three hits over 4.0 innings with four walks.
William Paterson will host Ramapo Thursday, April 23, at 3:30 p.m.
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