WINTER HAVEN, FLA. – William Paterson (5-2-1) scored twice during the top of the eighth inning for a 5-4 upset victory against No. 7 Wisconsin-La Crosse (3-2) March 13 at the RussMatt Central Florida Baseball Invitational.
The Pioneers struck first when freshman third baseman Carlos Perez (Hawthorne, N.J./Hawthorne) opened the top of the second inning with a walk and was moved to second by a groundout, freshman second baseman Vin Dorio (Lyndhurst, N.J./Lyndhurst) was hit by a pitch and junior catcher Jorge Solodkin (Short Hills, N.J./Millburn) hit an RBI-single.
The Eagles leveled the score during the home half of the second, using two singles and an Alex Brown sacrifice fly.
UWL jumped ahead by a 3-1 count in the third. A leadoff walk to sophomore shortstop Nate Heili, a groundout and a Joel Zyhowski base hit and error plated the first run, and a flyout, walk and run-scoring base hit from junior catcher Nate Roethle drove in Zyhowski.
Perez led off the fourth with a double to left center, advanced to third base on a wild-pitch ball four to junior shortstop Rob Eggert (South Plainfield, N.J./South Plainfield), and touched home via a sacrifice fly by Dorio.
WP tied the game during the top of the fifth as senior left fielder Mike Rowe (Cedar Grove, N.J./Cedar Grove) drew a leadoff walk, junior right fielder Anthony Hoagland (Dumont, N.J./Dumont) sent a base hit into left field and senior first baseman Eriq Colón (Hackensack, N.J./Hackensack) singled to left.
A Brennan Schmitt single and two-base error led to a Heili sac fly and a 4-3 Wisconsin-La Crosse advantage after six innings.
The Pioneers started the top of the eighth with a Perez base hit through the left side, and after a bunt popup, Dorio was hit by a pitch. Solodkin tied the game with his single up the middle, senior center fielder Mike Abate (Wayne, N.J./Wayne Hills) loaded the bases with a hit through the left side, and Rowe drove in the winning run with a sac fly to center field.
Perez finished 2-for-4, hit a double and scored three runs, while Solodkin was 2-for-4 with a pair of RBI. Hoagland and Colón each provided two hits.
Junior Mario Danza (Monroe, N.J./Monroe Twp.) started and gave up three runs (two earned) on six hits and three walks, striking out one during 3.1 innings of work. Classmate Adam Miller (West Orange, N.J./West Orange) picked up the win in relief (1-0), allowing five hits, one unearned run and two walks while posting a pair of strikeouts over 3.2 innings. Senior Frank Colasante (Paramus, N.J./Paramus) earned his second save in as many days with 2.0 innings of one-hit, shutout relief while registering two strikeouts.
Roethle was 3-for-5 with an RBI and run scored for UWL. Sophomore Caleb Willems took the loss (0-1), surrendering two runs on two hits and one walk with three strikeouts during 3.1 innings on the mound.
William Paterson will take on Springfield Tuesday, March 14, at 9:00 a.m. at the RussMatt Central Florida Invitational.
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