LEESBURG, FLA. – An eight-run ninth inning propelled the William Paterson baseball team (5-2) to a 12-6 victory March 12 against Trinity (0-1) at the Central Florida Invitational.

The Pioneers posted a run during the top of the third to take an early lead when sophomore second baseman Jacob Bailey (Middletown, N.J./Middletown North) reached on a one-out error, moved up two bases via a pair of balks and totted home when senior left fielder Tyler Garguilo (Paramus, N.J./Paramus) singled to right field.

Two base hits and a sacrifice bunt manufactured a run for the Bantams during the home half of the third, but WP answered with one run in the fifth. Bailey was hit by a pitch to open the frame, advanced to second thanks to a Garguilo sac bunt, and crossed the plate after back-to-back singles from junior center fielder Mike Abate (Wayne, N.J./Wayne Hills) and graduate student third baseman K.C. Abel (Wayne, N.J./Wayne Valley).

William Paterson made it a 4-1 margin during the top of the seventh inning. Garguilo came up with an infield single and Abel hit a run-scoring two-out double to left-center field. After a walk issued to sophomore first baseman Anthony Hoagland (Dumont, N.J./Dumont), a two-out error allowed Abel to scamper home.

Trinity took its first lead of the contest with four scores in the bottom of the seventh. A single and walk led to a two-out, two-run double by sophomore second baseman Cooper Mooney. A two-out error brought sophomore right fielder Brendan Pierce to the plate, and his two-bagger to left made it a 5-4 game.

A walk and two bunts singles loaded the bases with one out, and a Matthew Toth RBI-single to short pushed the Bantams ahead by a 6-4 count after eight innings.

The Pioneers fought back with eight runs during their final at-bat. Abate singled and Abel walked, and following a passed ball, Hoagland tied the game with a base hit up the middle. Junior designated hitter Eriq Colon (Hackensack, N.J./Hackensack) walked to load the bases for senior right fielder Jimmy Kenny (Fairfield, N.J./West Essex Regional), who drew a base on balls to push across the go-ahead run. An error plated Hoagland and Colon, Abate drilled a two-run base hit up the middle, and Abel doubled in two more runners to finish the scoring.

Abel finished 3-for-5 with two doubles, four RBI and a pair of runs scored. Abate was 4-for-6 and posted two RBI and two runs scored. Garguilo and junior catcher Mike Knauf (Manalapan, N.J./Manalapan) each contributed a pair of hits and a run-batted-in.

Sophomore Mario Danza (Monroe, N.J./Monroe Twp.) threw 6.0 innings, allowing one run on two hits with two strikeouts and five walks. Freshman Chris Babb (West Milford, N.J./DePaul Catholic) gave up four runs (two earned) and two hits over 0.2 inning, posting a strikeout and a walk, while freshman Eric Rosenberg (Paramus, N.J./Paramus) tallied one run and four hits allowed during 0.2 inning of work, collecting two strikeouts and a base on balls. Rookie Chase Strynkowski (Hillsdale, N.J./Pascack Valley Regional) earned the victory (1-0) with one strikeout in 0.2 inning on the bump, and sophomore Bryan Kopko (Colonia, N.J./Colonia) tossed a perfect ninth inning.

Pierce and Mooney were both 1-for-4 with two RBI for Trinity. Senior Sam Jordan took the loss in relief (0-1), allowing four hits and eight runs (two earned) with one strikeout and four walks during the ninth.

William Paterson will face No. 1 SUNY Cortland Sunday, March 13, at 12:30 p.m. at the Central Florida Invitational.

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