WAYNE, N.J. – The William Paterson baseball team (2-2) split a seven-inning doubleheader March 6 against Keene State (1-1), winning the first game, 2-1, before dropping an 8-6 decision during the night cap.
Game One
WP came out on top in a pitcher's duel, plating a run with two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning for a 2-1 victory.
The Owls pushed across a run during their first at-bat. Senior center fielder Joe Libby led off with a single to left center, stole second and moved to third when sophomore third baseman Christian Bourgea's base hit got down just in front of the charging center fielder. Sophomore first baseman Abe Grainger followed with a fly ball to deep center, a sac fly that plated Libby for a 1-0 score.
The Pioneers answered with a single run of their own during the home half of the first when graduate student third baseman K.C. Abel (Wayne, N.J./Wayne Valley) drilled a triple over the right fielder's head and sophomore first baseman Anthony Hoagland (Dumont, N.J./Dumont) followed with an RBI-single up the middle.
After two strikeouts to start the bottom of the seventh, junior center fielder Mike Abate (Wayne, N.J./Wayne Hills) drilled a ground ball through the left side of the infield and then stole second. Abel worked to draw a base on balls, bringing Hoagland to the plate. He launched a fly ball over the right fielder's head and to the warning track, more than enough to allow Abate to scamper home with the game-winning run.
Hoagland was 2-for-4 at the plate with a double and two RBI.
Sophomore Mario Danza (Monroe, N.J./Monroe Twp.) tossed the first 5.0 innings, scattering four hits and allowing one run and a walk. Senior Mitch D'Amato (Edison, N.J./Edison) picked up the victory (1-0) with 2.0 innings of perfect relief.
Libby was 2-for-3 with a run scored for Keene State. Senior Cody Dube tossed the complete game (0-1), giving up two runs on seven hits while striking out 10 and walking one.
Game Two
The Pioneers' rally fell short as WP dropped an 8-6 contest.
Keene State once again scored first, notching a pair of first-inning runs. Senior second baseman Billy Hartmann was issued a one-out walk and Bourgea doubled down the right-field line to drive him in. A groundout and a Devin Springfield RBI-single to center made it a 2-0 margin.
Sophomore second baseman Rob Eggert (South Plainfield, N.J./South Plainfield) and Abate drew one-out bases on balls in the bottom of the third, and Abel followed with a single up the middle. When Eggert took a wide turn at third base, the Owls threw over in an attempt to register the out, but the ball flew wide of the bag for an error that scored a run. Hoagland then chopped a grounder to first that was thrown home, but Abate slid across the plate before the tag could be applied and the Pioneers tied the game at 2-2.
Keene State fought back with a four-run fourth. Junior designated hitter Trevor Chapin singled to short and sophomore catcher Dan Sarah walked before freshman center Zach Rollins moved the runners up 90 feet with a sacrifice bunt. Freshman shortstop Mac Struthers' ground ball was thrown away, a two-base error that allowed both base runners to touch the plate, and senior left fielder Vinny Parilla then had a base hit and stolen base. Bourgea delivered both runners with a two-out single to center field, and the Owls owned a 6-2 advantage.
WP plated three runs during the bottom of the fourth. With runners on the corners and two outs, Abate singled in senior shortstop Victor Sanchez (Haverstraw, N.Y./North Rockland), and Abel's double to left-center field drove across Abate and junior left fielder Mike Rowe (Cedar Grove, N.J./Cedar Grove), making it a 6-5 contest.
KSC pushed its lead back to three with a two-run fifth. Chapin was hit by a pitch to open the frame, and a sacrifice attempt was thrown wide of second base. Struthers singled in Chapin and Parilla's RBI-groundout plated Sarah.
Sanchez dropped a bunt down the third-base line to open to the bottom half of the sixth and the throw got past the first baseman, allowing him to move to second. He advanced to third via a Rowe groundout, then trotted home when Abate grounded a base hit up the middle, making it an 8-6 contest.
Abel finished 3-for-4 with a pair of doubles and two RBI. Abate went 2-foor-3, collecting two RBI and a pair of runs scored, while Sanchez was 2-for-3 and touched home plate twice.
Junior starter Mike Sasso (West Orange, N.J./Montclair Kimberley) surrendered four runs on four hits over 3.1 innings, striking out one and walking three (0-1). Freshman Chris Babb (West Milford, N.J./DePaul Catholic) allowed two hits and a pair of unearned runs over 0.2 inning, posting a punchout and base on balls. Classmate Chris Phillips (Wayne, N.J./Wayne Hills) was charged with two unearned runs off one hit in 0.2 inning of work, posting a strikeout, while freshman Kevin Ludden (Monroe, N.J./Monroe Twp.) tossed the final 2.1 hitless innings, notching three strikeouts and a walk.
Bourgea led KSC with a 2-for-4 effort at the plate, posting a double and three RBI.
Senior Kevin Guild gave up five runs (three earned) and five hits during 3.2 innings on the mound, striking out four and walking four. Classmate Keith Simpson (1-0) allowed three hits and one unearned run with one strikeout over 3.1 innings.
William Paterson will play at Farmingdale State Tuesday, March 8, at 3:30 p.m.
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