WAYNE, N.J. – Four pitchers combined for the shutout as the William Paterson baseball team (3-0-1) blanked visiting Farmingdale State (0-1), 6-0, March 7.
Senior center fielder Mike Abate (Wayne, N.J./Wayne Hills) opened the bottom of the first inning with an infield single and advanced to second after a throwing error on a pickoff attempt. Junior right fielder Anthony Hoagland (Dumont, N.J./Dumont) drew a one-out walk and senior first baseman Eriq Colón (Hackensack, N.J./Hackensack) followed with an RBI-single to right field. Senior catcher Mike Knauf (Manalapan, N.J./Manalapan) plated Hoagland with a base hit to center, and WP owned an early 2-0 lead.
Hoagland led off the third with a triple over the center fielder's head and crossed the plate via a wild pitch, making it a 3-0 margin.
The Pioneers finished the scoring with a three-run seventh. Freshman second baseman Matt Ferrara (Paramus, N.J./Paramus) was hit by a pitch, Abate singled to right center and senior left fielder Mike Rowe (Cedar Grove, N.J./Cedar Grove) reached thanks to a hit by pitch, loading the bases to start the frame. A fielder's choice and foul out led to a run-scoring base on balls for Knauf, and freshman designated hitter Carlos Perez (Hawthorne, N.J./Hawthorne) doubled down the right-field line to drive across two baserunners.
Abate went 3-for-5 with two runs scored, and Kanuf and Perez each tallied two RBI.
Sophomore Chris Babb (West Milford, N.J./DePaul Catholic) improved to 2-0, allowing two hits and striking out five while throwing 4.0 innings on a pitch count. Classmate Eric Rosenberg (Paramus, N.J./Paramus) scattered four hits and two walks over 3.0 innings, registering two strikeouts. Freshman Zach Polzer (North Haledon, N.J./Passaic County Tech) issued a pair of bases on balls during 1.0 inning of work, and junior Bryan Kopko (Colonia, N.J./Colonia) tossed a perfect ninth inning.
Six different Rams accounted for Farmingdale State's six hits. Senior starter Matt Seelinger took the loss (0-1), giving up three runs on four hits and two walks, posting five strikeouts during 3.0 innings on the mound.
William Paterson will face Salve Regina Saturday, March 11, at 2:30 p.m. at the RussMatt Central Florida Invitational.
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