WAYNE, N.J. – The William Paterson baseball team (7-7-2) couldn't overcome an early deficit, suffering an 8-4 loss to Manhattanville (6-8) March 30.
The Valiants scored during their first at-bat, using a Danny Gallagher double, flyout and wild pitch for a 1-0 edge.
Manhattanville added four more in the top of the second, stringing together four singles, a walk, hit by pitch and sacrifice fly.
A walk and back-to-back singles made it a 6-0 Manhattanville lead during the fourth inning, and an error and two-run homer by freshman third baseman Matt Lynch pushed it to an 8-0 score in the sixth.
Senior center fielder Mike Abate (Wayne, N.J./Wayne Hills) hit a one-out single up the middle during the home half of the seventh and moved to second thanks to a balk. A wild pitch that was mishandled by the catcher was enough to allow Abate to score WP's first run of the game.
Freshman third baseman Carlos Perez (Hawthorne, N.J./Hawthorne) and freshman left fielder Eric Breun (Dumont, N.J./Dumont) were both hit by pitches in the eighth inning, and sophomore shortstop Jon Bernotas (Andover, N.J./Newton) hit an RBI-single to center field for an 8-2 margin.
Junior right fielder Anthony Hoagland (Dumont, N.J./Dumont) reached first on a one-out error in the ninth, stole second and touched home after a double down the left-field line by senior first baseman Eriq Colón (Hackensack, N.J./Hackensack). Perez later doubled to right center to drive in the Pioneers' final run.
Colón went 2-for-4 with a double, RBI and run scored. Abate finished 2-for-5 and scored a run, while junior catcher Jorge Solodkin (Short Hills, N.J./Millburn) also was 2-for-5.
Senior Mike Sasso (West Orange, N.J./Montclair Kimberley) allowed five runs on five hits and two walks over 2.1 innings (0-1). Sophomore Jeff Lombardi (Kendall Park, N.J./South Brunswick) pitched 3.2 innings and gave up three runs (two earned), three hits and a walk while posting three strikeouts. Junior Steve Duda (Berkeley Heights, N.J./Governor Livingston) struck out one and surrendered two hits in 1.0 inning, and sophomore Kevin Ludden (Monroe, N.J./Monroe Twp.) gave up a hit and a walk with one strikeout during 1.0 inning of work. Senior Frank Colasante (Paramus, N.J./Paramus) pitched 1.0 perfect inning of relief.
Lynch was 3-for-4 at the plate for Manhattanville while adding a home run, three RBI and two runs scored.
Junior starter Jorge Castro allowed three hits and four walks during 5.0 scoreless innings on the mound, striking out four (1-1).
William Paterson will start conference play Saturday, April 1, with a home doubleheader against Rutgers-Camden at 11:30 a.m.
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