WAYNE, N.J. – Six home runs highlighted a 23-hit explosion as the William Paterson baseball team (3-1) defeated visiting Purchase (0-1), 21-2, Feb. 23. The game was ended in the middle of the seventh inning due to darkness.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- The Pioneers wasted no time, touching the plate nine times during their first at-bat. Senior left fielder Colin Lombardo and graduate student first baseman Carson Weis opened the frame with base hits before senior catcher Steve Yelin launched a home run over the scoreboard in left-center field, making it a 3-0 game. Senior pitcher Dan Carter doubled down the left-field line and junior center fielder Elliott Hayward had a two-out single through the right side, setting up a Jake Lutz run-scoring double to left. A two-out error plated Lutz, Lombardo drilled a two-run homer to left center and Yelin doubled in Weis for a 9-0 advantage.
- WP added four more in the second. Carter launched a leadoff home run to center field, senior third baseman Chris Liriano drew a walk and Lutz sent them both home with a round-tripper over the left-center fence. Lombardo later hit a solo shot to center, his second home run of the day, to push the Pioneers ahead by a 13-0 count.
- Hayward's two-out base hit through the right side drove home Yelin and senior right fielder Vinnie Martin, making it a 16-0 margin after three innings.
- Purchase got on the scoreboard during the top half of the fourth, thanks to a pair of singles, a wild pitch and an RBI-groundout.
- William Paterson posted a pair of runs during the home half of the fourth, as Yelin sent a solo shot to right center and Carter singled in sophomore right fielder Brett Coyle.
- The Panthers made it an 18-2 score in the fifth with a walk, groundout and run-scoring double.
- WP tacked on three more in the sixth. Sophomore designated hitter Kevin Minardi had an infield single and junior third baseman David Backo walked, followed by a Ruven Pino RBI-double, a run-scoring error off the bat of freshman second baseman Tom Radigan and a Patrick Ryan run-scoring base hit.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
- Yelin went 4-for-4 with two home runs, a double, four RBI and three runs scored. Lutz was 3-for-3 while posting two doubles, a homer and four RBI.
- Lombardo finished 3-for-4, adding two home runs, three RBI and three runs scored.
- Carter tossed 4.0 innings on a pitch count, scattering one run and four hits while posting six strikeouts (1-0). At the plate he was 3-for-4 with a double, homer and two runs scored.
- Junior Tyler Searles allowed one run on two hits and an error with one strikeout in 1.0 inning. Freshman Pat Pantoliano walked one and struck out one in 1.0 inning of one-hit action, and classmate Neel Telidevara struck out one of the three batters he faced.
UP NEXT:
- William Paterson will host Immaculata Saturday, Feb. 26, for a doubleheader beginning at 11:30 a.m.
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