WAYNE, N.J. – A four-run Scarlet Raider eighth inning helped to snap William Paterson's (12-10-2, 5-2 NJAC) five-game conference baseball win streak as the Pioneers fell, 9-5, April 13 to visiting Rutgers-Newark (16-6-11, 5-2 NJAC).
Rutgers-Newark led off the game with a single through the middle infield by sophomore shortstop Ryan Zucker. A failed pickoff attempt at first base allowed Zucker to advance to third, and he later scored on a Josh Cote ground ball to the shortstop, putting the Scarlet Raiders in front 1-0 during the first inning of play.
Junior designated hitter Jorge Solodkin (Short Hills, N.J./Millburn) singled to right center in the bottom of the second inning for William Paterson, and freshman shortstop Matt Ferrara (Paramus, N.J./Paramus) delivered a base hit behind the second-base bag to put runners on first and second for the Pioneers. Junior second baseman Rob Eggert (South Plainfield, N.J./South Plainfield) flared a ball down the right-field line that was misplayed by the Scarlet Raider fielder, allowing Solodkin to cross home plate and knot the score at 1-1.
Two singles and a fielder's choice loaded the bases with no outs for the Scarlet Raiders in the top of the third inning. A long sacrifice fly to right-center field by Cote scored freshman second baseman Juan Ball, and advanced Zucker to third. A Ross Halkias single through the left side plated two more runs for the Scarlet Raiders, making it a 4-1 game.
Senior center fielder Mike Abate (Wayne, N.J./Wayne Hills) singled up the middle to lead off the bottom half of the third inning, and junior right fielder Anthony Hoagland (Dumont, N.J./Dumont) reached on a fielder's choice that put runners on the corners. A sacrifice fly by senior catcher Mike Knauf (Manalapan, N.J./Manalapan) scored another run for the Pioneers, cutting the deficit to 4-2.
An Abate single to the shortstop and a double by Hoagland down the left-field line left runners on second and third for WP in the home half of the fifth. Senior first baseman Eriq Colón (Hackensack, N.J./Hackensack) grounded a ball to shortstop, allowing Abate to cross home plate, and Knauf laced a single to right field, scoring Hoagland to tie the score at 4-4.
A leadoff triple by Ball and an RBI-double to left center off the bat of Zucker pushed Rutgers-Newark ahead by a 5-4 count in the seventh, and four more runs in the eighth led to a 9-4 edge. Freshman designated hitter Colin Powers singled in junior center fielder Anthony Perconte, who had opened the frame with a base hit, and Ball's squeeze bunt plated freshman right fielder Dan Tricanico. Junior catcher Justin Marks later doubled in Powers and Ball.
Hoagland opened the bottom of the ninth with a base hit through the left side, stole second, advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored the game's final run thanks to a Knauf groundout.
Knnauf drove in three runs, while Abate, Hoagland and freshman shortstop Matt Ferrara (Paramus, N.J./Paramus) each contributed a pair of hits.
Sophomore Eric Rosenberg (Paramus, N.J./Paramus) surrendered four runs on eight hits and struck out one in 5.1 innings of work. Junior Steve Duda (Berkeley Heights, N.J./Governor Livingston) allowed two hits, one run and a walk during 0.2 inning (0-1), and freshman Zach Polzer (North Haledon, N.J./Passaic County Tech) gave up a run and a hit with two strikeouts in 1.0 inning. Junior Bryan Kopko (Colonia, N.J./Colonia) allowed four hits, three runs and a walk over 1.0 inning, while sophomore Jeff Lombardi (Kendall Park, N.J./South Brunswick) pitched the final 1.0 scoreless inning and struck out two while giving up a hit.
Ball led the Scarlet Raiders at the plate, finishing 3-for-4 with an RBI and three runs scored. Junior starter Dominick Fazio tossed 6.0 innings, surrendering four runs (three earned) on seven hits and three walks while posting five strikeouts (2-0).
William Paterson will host Rutgers-Newark Friday, April 14, at 3:30 p.m.
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