WINTER HAVEN, FLA. – The William Paterson baseball team (7-4) posted eight runs during the top of the first inning, then held on down the stretch for a 9-8 victory against RPI (1-9) March 15 at the Central Florida Invitational.
Junior center fielder Mike Abate (Wayne, N.J./Wayne Hills) opened the contest with a double down the left-field line, advanced to third via a wild pitch and scored when graduate student third baseman K.C. Abel (Wayne, N.J./Wayne Valley) singled through the right side. Senior right fielder Jimmy Kenny (Fairfield, N.J./West Essex Regional) walked before junior designated hitter Eriq Colon (Hackensack, N.J./Hackensack) hit a two-run double to right center, then junior catcher Mike Knauf (Manalapan, N.J./Manalapan) and senior second baseman Justin Ferreira (Elmwood Park, N.J./Elmwood Park Memorial) were hit by pitches to load the bases. Senior left fielder Tyler Garguilo (Paramus, N.J./Paramus) delivered Colon with a two-out single and Knauf touched home thanks to an error on the play, and Abate finished the scoring with a three-run home run to right.
An error, groundout and sacrifice fly got one run back for the Engineers during the bottom of the first inning, and RPI used a dropped fly, walk and single to add one more run in the third.
The Pioneers tacked on a single score during the top of the fifth inning when Ferreira drew a leadoff base on balls, stole second and scampered home on an error on a sacrifice attempt.
A leadoff walk, base hit, hit by pitch and fielder's choice made it a 9-3 game after six innings, and RPI pulled to within one with a five-run seventh, including a two-run single and a two-run homer.
Abate finished 2-for-5 with a double, home run, three RBI, a stolen base and two runs scored. Colon was 2-for-4 with a double, two RBI and a run scored, while Abel and Kenny each contributed a pair of hits.
Freshman Chris Babb (West Milford, N.J./DePaul Catholic) made his first career start, allowing three unearned runs and six hits over 5.0 innings, striking out two and walking four (2-0). Classmate Chris Phillips (Wayne, N.J./Wayne Hills) gave up three hits and four runs in 1.1 innings of work with a strikeout and a walk, and sophomore Steve Addesso (Wayne, N.J./Wayne Hills) tossed 0.2 inning and surrendered one hit and a run scored with one punchout. Sophomore Bryan Kopko (Colonia, N.J./Colonia) registered the save (two) thanks to 2.0 innings of perfect relief.
Junior second baseman Yahriel Jimenez led RPI at the plate, finishing 3-for-5 with an RBI and run scored. Freshman starter Patrick McMackin took the loss (0-1), charged with five hits and eight runs (four earned) during 0.2 inning on the mound, striking out two and walking one.
William Paterson will face Springfield Wednesday, March 16, at 11:00 a.m. at the Central Florida Invitational.
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