AUBURNDALE, FLA. – Graduate student third baseman K.C. Abel (Wayne, N.J./Wayne Valley) belted a grand slam and the William Paterson baseball team (8-4) defeated Springfield (3-2), 10-6, March 16 at the Central Florida Invitational.
Back-to-back doubles by Abel and sophomore designated hitter Anthony Hoagland (Dumont, N.J./Dumont) hit back-to-back doubles, and senior right fielder Jimmy Kenny (Fairfield, N.J./West Essex Regional) followed with an RBI-single, to give the Pioneers a 2-0 fourth-inning lead.
The Pride answered with a single run during the home half of the same frame, using a leadoff double and a two-out single.
WP tacked on four more scores in the fifth. A single to left field by junior left fielder Mike Rowe (Cedar Grove, N.J./Cedar Grove), a base on balls from sophomore shortstop Rob Eggert (South Plainfield, N.J./South Plainfield) and a base hit to right by junior center fielder Mike Abate (Wayne, N.J./Wayne Hills) loaded the bases for Abel, who blasted his first career grand slam.
Two base hits, a fielder's choice, passed ball and error allowed Springfield to make it a 6-3 game after five innings.
A base hit from senior first baseman Jon Bujtas (Boonton, N.J./Seton Hall Prep), a Rowe hit by pitch and an error pushed across one WP run in the top of the sixth, and the Pride took advantage of a bases-loaded fielder's choice for a 7-4 margin in the seventh inning.
Bujtas reached base via an error to open the top of the eighth, and he was sacrificed to second by Rowe. Eggert's base hit left runners on the corners, and Abate tripled in both Pioneers before he scored himself thanks to an Abel sacrifice fly.
Springfield finished the scoring with a pair of runs during the bottom of the eighth on a double, triple and sac fly.
Abel finished 2-for-4 with a grand slam, five RBI and two runs scored. Abate went 2-for-6 while adding a triple, two RBI and a pair of runs scored, while Kenny was 2-for-5 and drove in a run.
Freshman Chase Strynkowski (Hillsdale, N.J./Pascack Valley Regional) improved to 2-0 while making his first career start, surrendering four runs (three earned) on eight hits over 6.0 innings with one strikeout and a walk. Classmate Eric Rosenberg (Paramus, N.J./Paramus) gave up four hits and two runs during 2.0 innings of work, posting a strikeout and a walk. Sophomore Steve Duda (Berkeley Heights, N.J./Governor Livingston) struck out one hitter while pitching the ninth inning.
Senior right fielder Billy Peterson was 3-for-5 with a run scored for the Pride. Junior starter Tyler Kelly took the loss (0-1) after allowing seven runs (six earned) on eight hits during 5.1 innings, registering three strikeouts and a walk.
William Paterson will take on Endicott Thursday, March 17, at 9:15 a.m. at the Central Florida Invitational.
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