WAYNE, N.J. – Junior Corey Martinez hurled a 90-pitch complete-game shutout as the Pioneers dominated the opener, 13-0, but William Paterson (18-9, 6-4 NJAC) saw its six-game baseball win streak snapped by Kean (15-16, 6-4 NJAC) in the night cap, 5-1, April 14.
Game One
The Pioneers banged out 12 hits, including four for extra bases, and used an efficient effort by Martinez for a 13-0 opening victory.
Sophomore second baseman Matt Ferrara opened the home half of the second with a hard-hit ball down the left-field line, finding the inside of the foul pole while clearing the top of the fence for his first career home run and a 1-0 William Paterson edge.
The Pioneers used some stellar defense early, including freshman shortstop Greg Cuevas getting to a ground ball up the middle to start a 6-4-3 double play that ended the Cougars' first inning. In the top of the second, Martinez fielded a comebacker that he threw behind a leaning Matt Krupa at second for a non-force out, then picked off John Carello at first before finishing the frame with a strikeout looking. Freshman first baseman Carson Weis later made an acrobatic dive and catch across his body, snaring a line drive to end the third.
WP opened it up with a four-run sixth, starting with a Carlos Perez leadoff double to left and a Ferrara RBI-triple into the right-field corner. Ferrara touched home after a wild pitch to make it a 3-0 game, and following a base on balls drawn by freshman third baseman Christopher Liriano, a Cuevas sacrifice and another wild pitch, Liriano was left at third base. Back-to-back walks by senior catcher Jorge Solodkin and freshman center fielder Steven DiGirolamo loaded the bags, a wild pitch allowed Liriano to cross the plate, and an error was enough for Solodkin to score and make it a 5-0 lead.
The Pioneers then put the game out of reach with a seven-run bottom of the seventh inning. An opening error put Perez aboard, and a Ferrara base hit to left field and a Liriano hit by pitch loaded the bags. Kean was able to get the lead runner at the plate after a groundout, but Weis sent a two-run single to center, and after a flyout, DiGirolamo drove across Cuevas with a single through the left side.
A walk to freshman left fielder Francis Deane again loaded the bases, and freshman right fielder Dan Carter emptied them when he drilled a triple over the right fielder's head. Perez finished the seventh-inning onslaught with a run-scoring single through the left side of the infield for a 12-0 advantage.
DiGirolamo made it a 13-0 game in the eighth, singling in Weis, who had reached via a fielder's choice.
Ferrara finished 3-for-5 with a triple, home run, two RBI and three runs scored. Carter was 2-for-4 while contributing a triple, three RBI and a run, while Weis went 2-for-5 and posted two RBI and a pair of runs scored. DiGirolamo had two hits, a pair of RBI and a run, and Perez finished 2-for-5 while adding a double, RBI and run scored.
Martinez (5-1) scattered six hits over his 9.0 innings, striking out seven without issuing a walk.
Sophomore center fielder Frank LoGiudice collected two hits for the Cougars. Junior starter Christopher Rossi (2-1) allowed four runs on six hits and three walks, striking out a pair during 5.0 innings of work.
Game Two
This time it was Kean's turn to register the complete game on the mound, as freshman Justin Diefenbach tossed a seven-hitter during a 5-1 decision.
The Cougars used a walk, bunt single, sacrifice bunt and sac fly for a 1-0 first-inning edge, and made it 2-0 in the second with a base hit, steal and two-out single.
Kean crossed the plate three times in the top of the fifth, stringing together a leadoff walk, stolen base, RBI-single, groundout, run-scoring double and squeeze bunt.
WP struck for a single run during the home half of the fifth thanks to a Liriano leadoff single to left and a Cuevas triple to the wall in the center.
Liriano and Cuevas each finished with a pair of hits for the Pioneers.
Junior Chris Babb went 4.1 innings, surrendering nine hits, five runs and three walks while registering three strikeouts (2-4). Senior Bryan Kopko allowed a hit and a walk over 1.2 innings, and junior Jack Benson pitched 2.0 innings of two-hit ball. Classmate Eric Rosenberg struck out two and walked one during 1.0 inning on the bump.
LoGiudice was 3-for-5 with an RBI and run scored for Kean. Diefenbach (2-2) gave up one run on seven hits and two walks, striking out six.
William Paterson will host Scranton Tuesday, April 17, at Jeff Albies Field at 4:00 p.m.
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