WAYNE, N.J. – William Paterson (1-0) exploded for a five-run second inning, then added six more in the fifth en route to a 15-1 season-opening baseball victory against visiting New Jersey City (0-1) March 11.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- The Gothic Knights struck first, using a double and single to plate a run during their first at-bat.
- WP answered with a five-run second inning. Senior catcher Dylan Habeeb and junior third baseman Chris Liriano singled to open the frame, followed by an RBI-single from senior first baseman Carson Weis. An Adrian Alarcon base hit and error plated Liriano, junior second baseman Colin Lombardo had an infield single and stolen base, and senior center fielder Steven DiGirolamo's RBI-single to right field and an error made it a 4-1 margin. Junior designated hitter Steve Yelin later doubled to left center, plating WP's fifth tally of the inning.
- After Liriano was hit by a one-out pitch and Weis singled to left-center field, Alarcon delivered a run-scoring fielder's choice, making it a 6-1 score after three innings.
- Yelin's fielder's choice, stolen base and two wild pitches pushed the Pioneers' advantage to 7-1 in the fourth.
- Six Pioneers touched the plate during the home half of the fifth inning. Liriano and Weis opened the frame with base hits, then both scored on an error. A two-out Ferrara hit by pitch was followed by Yelin's two-run double into the left-center gap, junior right fielder Dan Carter drew a four-pitch walk, and Habeeb belted a double to left center, making it a 13-1 game.
- Ferrara's bases-loaded single plated Weis and senior left fielder Frankie Deane, finishing the WP scoring during the bottom of the eighth.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
- Yelin finished 2-for-4 with two doubles, a pair of runs scored and three RBI, while Ferrara was 3-for-4, scored once and drove in two runs.
- Weis went 3-for-5 while adding two RBI and a run scored, and Habeeb had two hits, including a double, two RBI and a run. Liriano posted two hits and touched home three times.
- Junior Jason Palmeri (1-0) pitched 6.0 innings of six-hit, one-run ball. He struck out three batters and walked two.
- Senior Jason Rivera covered 2.0 innings, striking out one while giving up one hit. Junior Tyler Searles struck out two of the four batters he faced in the ninth.
- The game between NJAC members will not be counted in the league standings. Conference play begins April 3.
- For the Pioneers, the contest was their first in a year and a day. WP's 2020 season ended abruptly after a 7-6 home win March 10 against St. Joseph's-Long Island.
UP NEXT:
- William Paterson goes to No. 12 Kean for a non-conference doubleheader Saturday, March 13, at 2:30 p.m.
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