WAYNE, N.J. – Graduate student shortstop K.C. Abel (Wayne, N.J./Wayne Valley) was 4-for-5 with four RBI as the William Paterson baseball team (15-11, 4-3 NJAC) rolled to a 12-4 victory against visiting Montclair State (12-13, 3-4 NJAC) April 14.
Abel hit a one-out single through the right side of the infield, stole second and scored on a two-out base hit to left by senior right fielder Jimmy Kenny (Fairfield, N.J./West Essex Regional) for a 1-0 lead after one inning.
WP doubled its advantage during the bottom of the third when junior designated hitter Eriq Colon (Hackensack, N.J./Hackensack) put a double into the left-center gap, was sacrificed to third by senior third baseman Victor Sanchez (Haverstraw, N.Y./North Rockland) and scored on a sac fly to right field from sophomore second baseman Rob Eggert (South Plainfield, N.J./South Plainfield).
The Red Hawks knotted the score in the top of the third. Freshman shortstop Justin Epifanio doubled down the left-field line to open the frame, and junior right fielder Ryan Long singled and later stole second to put two runners into scoring position. Junior designated hitter Matt Long hit a sac fly to right, and a later Philip Scott RBI-single to left made it a 2-2 game.
The Pioneers seized a 6-2 lead during the bottom of the fourth inning. Sophomore first baseman Anthony Hoagland(Dumont, N.J./Dumont) hit a leadoff double down the left-field line and later moved to third on an error. Colon's sac fly broke the deadlock, and after a groundout, Eggert and senior left fielder Tyler Garguilo (Paramus, N.J./Paramus) added base hits. Junior center fielder Mike Abate (Wayne, N.J./Wayne Hills) singled in Eggert, and Abel added a two-run double to left center.
William Paterson tacked on another run in the fifth when Kenny led off with a base hit up the middle, later moved to second on an error and third on a wild pitch, and touched home on a Sanchez RBI-single to center field.
WP made it an 8-2 margin during the bottom half of the sixth. Abate knocked a two-out single up the middle, stole second, reached third on an error and trotted home when junior catcher Mike Knauf (Manalapan, N.J./Manalapan) knocked a base hit up the middle.
Montclair State got two runs back in the seventh. Junior first baseman Ryan Thieme led off with a single up the middle, and a Keith Murphy fielder's choice and stolen base left him on second base with two outs. Epifanio drove across Murphy with a base hit up the middle, and singles by Ryan Long and Matt Long resulted in an 8-4 game.
Garguilo was hit by a pitch to start the bottom of the eighth inning, followed by an Abate single, wild pitch and Abel two-run double down the left-field line.
Abel had two doubles and scored a pair of runs. Abate went 3-for-5 with an RBI and three runs scored, while Colon finished 2-for-4 while adding a double, two RBI and a run scored.
Senior Mitch D'Amato (Edison, N.J./Edison) gave up four runs on 10 hits, striking out two over 6.2 innings (5-2). Freshman Eric Rosenberg (Paramus, N.J./Paramus) tossed the final 2.1 innings, scattering two hits while issuing one walk.
Ryan Long was 4-for-5, scored a run and stole two bases. Matt Long went 2-for-4 with two RBI.
Junior starter Michael Matarazzo took the loss (0-3), surrendering six runs on nine hits in 4.0 innings on the mound.
William Paterson will visit Montclair State Friday, April 15, at 3:30 p.m.
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