LAKELAND, FLA. – The William Paterson baseball team (5-3-1) suffered a 9-5 loss to Springfield (2-1) March 14 at the RussMatt Central Florida Invitational.

A solo homer run by freshman right fielder Jake Gleason and a Marcelino Diaz single, error and Nick LeDuc double handed the Pride a 2-0 advantage during the top of the second inning.

The Pioneers got one run back during the home half of the second when senior designated hitter Mike Knauf (Manalapan, N.J./Manalapan) singled up the middle, moved to second on a wild pitch, advanced to third on a base hit through the rights side by junior shortstop Rob Eggert (South Plainfield, N.J./South Plainfield), and scored after a squeeze bunt by junior catcher Jorge Solodkin (Short Hills, N.J./Millburn).

Springfield added two more in the fifth thanks to three singles, a groundout and a walk.

Senior center fielder Mike Abate (Wayne, N.J./Wayne Hills) made it a 4-2 score when he led off the bottom of the fifth inning with a home run to left.

WP evened the score in the sixth. Freshman third baseman Carlos Perez (Hawthorne, N.J./Hawthorne) opened the frame with a base hit through the left side, and after a flyout, moved to second via a wild pitch. He scored thanks to a RBI-single by freshman second baseman Vin Dorio (Lyndhurst, N.J./Lyndhurst), but Dorio was tagged out trying to get to second base on the play. Eggert followed with a double down the left-field line and Solodkin singled him in for a 4-4 deadlock.

A two-run Colin King double helped the Pride add three runs during the top of the eighth inning, but a bases-loaded sacrifice fly from senior left fielder Mike Rowe (Cedar Grove, N.J./Cedar Grove) made it a 7-5 game after eight.

Junior catcher Peter Marsicano drove in the final two runs for Springfield with a bases-loaded double with two outs in the ninth.

Eggert was 3-for-4 with a double and two runs scored, while Solodkin finished 2-for-3 and drove in two runs.

Senior Mike Sasso (West Orange, N.J./Montclair Kimberley) gave up four runs on seven hits and a walk, striking out four in 4.2 innings. Freshman Zach Polzer (North Haledon, N.J./Passaic County Tech) allowed three hits and one run while posting one strikeout during 2.1 innings on the mound (0-1). Junior Steve Duda (Berkeley Heights, N.J./Governor Livingston) surrendered two runs on one hit and a base on balls in 0.1 inning, and sophomore Chris Babb (West Milford, N.J./DePaul Catholic) gave up four hits, two runs and one walk with a strikeout over 1.2 innings.

Marsicano led Springfield at the plate, going 3-for-5 with a double, three RBI and a run scored.

Sophomore Fletcher Comment tossed the final 3.1 innings, allowing two hits, one run and three walks (1-0).

William Paterson will face McDaniel Wednesday, March 15, at 9:00 a.m. at the RussMatt Central Florida Invitational.

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