WAYNE, N.J. – The William Paterson baseball team (15-15) owned a 7-1 lead heading into the top of the eighth inning, but visiting Scranton (14-14) rallied late for an 8-7 victory April 19.
The Pioneers opened up a 5-0 advantage during the bottom of the second. Sophomore first baseman Anthony Hoagland(Dumont, N.J./Dumont) was hit by a pitch and sophomore shortstop Rob Eggert (South Plainfield, N.J./South Plainfield) followed with a triple down the right-field line. Junior left fielder Mike Rowe (Cedar Grove, N.J./Cedar Grove) was hit by a pitch and freshman third baseman Jon Bernotas (Andover, N.J./Newton) hit an RBI-single to left before a strikeout. Junior center fielder Mike Abate (Wayne, N.J./Wayne Hills) walked to load the bases for graduate student second baseman K.C. Abel (Wayne, N.J./Wayne Valley), who cleared them with a triple to right center.
A Justin Howell walk, wild pitch and Tommy Trotter run-scoring single put the Royals on the scoreboard during the top of the third inning.
WP answered during the home half of the same frame with a double down the left-field line by junior designated hitter Eriq Colon (Hackensack, N.J./Hackensack), a groundout and an Eggert sacrifice fly, making it a 6-1 margin.
Senior right fielder Jimmy Kenny (Fairfield, N.J./West Essex Regional) opened the bottom of the fifth with a double to right center and scored two batters later on a Hoagland RBI-single through the right side of the infield.
Senior left fielder Brian Healy and freshman first baseman Ian McIntosh walked to start the top of the eighth, freshman designated hitter Ryan Coonahan doubled in a run and freshman John Joe Gustin added a pinch-hit run-scoring groundout. Sophomore infielder Michael Ratner's ground ball plated Coonahan and Scranton trailed, 7-4.
A Trotter hit by pitch, Anthony Simone walk and Seth Bower base hit loaded the bags with no one out during the ninth. Healy lifted a sac fly to center field, McIntosh loaded the bases again with his single into center, and Coonahan drove in Simone with a base hit through the right side. Sophomore catcher Kevin Nolan provided the tying and go-ahead runs with a single to left.
Abel finished 2-for-5 with a triple and three RBI, while Eggert had a triple, two RBI and a run scored.
Junior Mike Sasso (West Orange, N.J./Montclair Kimberley) tossed the first 6.0 innings and allowed one run on four hits and four walks, striking out three. Freshman Chris Babb (West Milford, N.J./DePaul Catholic) gave up a hit and a walk in 1.0 inning, while sophomore Steve Addesso (Wayne, N.J./Wayne Hills) surrendered three runs, one hit and two walks over 1.0 inning. Freshman Chris Phillips (Wayne, N.J./Wayne Hills) gave up two runs and a walk, and sophomore Bryan Kopko (Colonia, N.J./Colonia) allowed two runs and four hits while posting a strikeout during 1.0 inning of action (3-2).
Coonahan led the Royals at the plate with a 2-for-5 effort, adding a double, two RBI and a run scored. Sophomore starter Jack Hurley gave up seven runs on seven hits and one walk, striking out one in 4.0 innings. Junior Sean McNamara earned the victory (4-2) with a perfect eighth inning, and classmate David Chromey picked up his third save with a one-hit ninth.
William Paterson will visit Rutgers-Newark Thursday, April 21, at 3:30 p.m.
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