WAYNE, N.J. – A late-inning rally fell short for the William Paterson baseball team (11-8) as the Pioneers suffered a 6-4 loss March 30 against St. Joseph's-Long Island (9-5).
WP struck first with a single run during its first at-bat, as junior center fielder Mike Abate (Wayne, N.J./Wayne Hills) hit a leadoff single to center field, moved to second on a wild pitch, advanced to third when senior left fielder Tyler Garguilo (Paramus, N.J./Paramus) grounded out to the pitcher, and crossed the plate after graduate student shortstop K.C. Abel (Wayne, N.J./Wayne Valley) had an RBI-groundout to short.
The Golden Eagles posted five runs in the top of the fourth inning. Sophomore second baseman Mike Griffo was hit by a two-out pitch and senior third baseman Joseph Calabrese walked before senior catcher James Terry hit a ground ball to senior first baseman Jon Bujtas' (Boonton, N.J./Seton Hall Prep) right. Freshman pitcher Kevin Ludden (Monroe, N.J./Monroe Twp.) was late getting to the bag to cover, and in the confusion of the play Griffo rounded third and continued home with the tying run. Senior center fielder Ryan Walsh's base on balls then loaded the bags for junior right fielder Anthony Bonilla, who drilled a ball over the left-field fence for a grand slam and a 5-1 edge.
Bujtas opened the home half of the fifth with a base hit up the middle and Abate added a one-out single through the center of the infield before Abel made it a 5-2 game with a two-out base hit to right-center field.
A Brandon Sullivan single and back-to-back WP errors pushed SJ-LI's advantage to 6-2 in the eighth.
An Abate leadoff single led to an Abel two-run homer to left, making it a 6-4 game with one out in the bottom of the ninth, but a popup, walk and groundout ended the Pioneer rally.
Abel was 3-for-4 with a homer and all four WP runs-batted-in. Abate went 3-for-5 while scoring twice.
Ludden tossed the first 4.0 innings, allowing five runs on four hits and three walks while registering two strikeouts (0-1). Sophomore Mario Danza (Monroe, N.J./Monroe Twp.) tossed 3.0 perfect frames while collecting three punchouts, while junior Mike Sasso (West Orange, N.J./Montclair Kimberley) gave up one unearned run and three hits in 2.0 innings of work with one strikeout.
Bonilla was 2-for-4, including a grand slam, for SJ-LI. Junior Ryan Aloise improved to 3-1, surrendering two runs on six hits and two walks over 6.0 innings, striking out two. Junior Josh Outsen earned his first save with 3.0 innings of two-run ball, allowing five hits and two walks while collecting a pair of strikeouts.
William Paterson will start league play Saturday, April 2, with a doubleheader at No. 8/10 Rutgers-Camden at 11:30 a.m.
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