WAYNE, N.J. – William Paterson (19-9) scored 12 runs during its final two at-bats for a 14-11 baseball victory against visiting Scranton (10-12) April 17.
Each team crossed the plate once during the first, with the Royals using back-to-back doubles with two outs, and the Pioneers taking advantage of a Francis Deane single, Dan Carter groundout and Carlos Perez double to the right-center gap.
Scranton opened the top of the third with a base hit up the middle before a stolen base and double made it a 2-1 score. WP answered with a single run during the home half of the same frame. Freshman center fielder Steven DiGirolamo opened with a single through the left side and advanced to second via a wild pitch before Deane was issued a walk. A fielder's choice and Perez base on balls left the bags loaded for sophomore infielder Matt Ferrara, who lifted a sacrifice fly to left.
The Royals pushed across three sixth-inning scores, stringing together three base hits, a sacrifice bunt and an error.
William Paterson took its first lead of the day with a four-run seventh. Deane led off with a single to center and Carter sent a base hit through the right side before Perez delivered an RBI-single through the left side of the infield. Ferrara delivered Carter when his ground ball found the hole on the left side, and sophomore Vin Dorio's bunt single loaded the bags. Freshman infielder Greg Cuevas dropped a single into right field, plating Perez for the tying run, and freshman first baseman Carson Weis handed WP a 6-5 edge when his base hit through the left side scored Ferrara.
An eight-run eighth blew the game open for the Pioneers. Leadoff hitter Carter reached via an error and stole second before Perez walked. Ferrara's sac bunt was thrown away, allowing two runs to score and leaving Ferrara on third. He touched home thanks to a wild pitch, Dorio doubled to right field and Cuevas sent an RBI-single up the middle for a 10-5 edge.
Solodkin later singled down the right-field line, DiGirolamo walked and Deane was hit by a pitch to load the bases with two outs for Carter, who drilled a three-run triple to the right-center gap. He touched home one batter later when Perez dropped a base hit into left field.
A base hit and four walks led to a two-out Scranton grand slam and a 14-11 score during the top of the ninth, and another base hit left the potential tying run on deck. Junior closer Eric Rosenberg entered and recorded a strikeout for his fifth save of the season.
Perez was 3-for-3 with a double, three RBI and two runs scored, while Carter finished 2-for-6 with a three-run triple while touching home three times. Dorio went 3-for-5 and posted a double and run, and Cuevas and Ferrara each drove in a pair of runs.
Junior Jeff Lombardi, Jr. gave up five runs (two earned) on 10 hits and a walk, striking out three over 6.0 innings as the starter. Freshman Christian Smith tossed a perfect seventh (1-0), and senior Bryan Kopko recorded a strikeout during a scoreless eighth. Freshman Andrew D'Ambrosio was charged with two hits, six runs and four walks with one strikeout during 0.2 inning, and classmate Jake Kavanaugh surrendered a hit in the ninth.
Sophomore designated hitter Kevin Haag finished 3-for-5 with a double, RBI and run scored for the Royals. Freshman Matthew Yard (0-2) allowed four runs on six hits in 1.0 inning of relief.
William Paterson will return to action Thursday, April 19, at Ramapo at 3:30 p.m.
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