WAYNE, N.J. – Third-seeded William Paterson (27-13, 12-6 NJAC) used a walk-off single in the bottom of the ninth inning to defeat fourth-seeded and 23rd-ranked Kean (29-12, 12-6 NJAC), 5-4, during the first round of the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) Baseball Tournament May 3 at Jeff Albies Field.
The Pioneers will face second-seeded and 25th-ranked Montclair State (31-9, 15-3 NJAC) in the second round of the double-elimination tourney Friday, May 6, at 7:00 p.m. at Kean.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- A walk, single, double, groundout and two more base hits allowed the Cougars to take a 4-0 first-inning lead.
- Senior designated hitter Dylan Habeeb started the home half of the second with a single to center, and after a flyout, graduate student first baseman Carson Weis blasted a pitch off the scoreboard in left, a two-run homer and his fourth round-tripper of the year. Sophomore second baseman Jake Lutz was hit by the next pitch, followed by a shallow hit off the bat of senior center fielder Justin Grippo that fell on the right-field line for a double. A wild pitch plated Lutz, pulling the Pioneers within one at 4-3.
- With two on and one out in the third, Kean tried a suicide squeeze but the bunt was lined towards the mound. Weis made a diving play to snare it, then threw to third to complete the inning-ending double play and keep it a one-run game.
- Base hits by senior third baseman Colin Lombardo and senior left fielder Dan Carter left runners on the corners with one out in the fifth. A Habeeb line drive was deep enough to center to plate Lombardo on the sacrifice fly, knotting the score at 4-4.
- Senior Matt Lawler came out of the bullpen and twirled perfect sixth and seventh frames. He worked out of trouble in the eighth when the Cougars had runners on second and third with two outs, fielding a comebacker and flipping to first for the final out. He then sat all three batters down in order in the ninth.
- Lombardo sent a one-out pitch up the middle for a ninth-inning single, then was able to beat the throw to second after senior right fielder Vinnie Martin flied out to center, putting himself into scoring position. Carter hit a 1-1 pitch to left and Lombardo came around to score for Carter's second walk-off winner in less than a week.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
- Habeeb was 3-for-3 with a double, sac fly, RBI and run scored. Weis hit a two-run homer, Carter went 2-for-5 with the game-winning RBI, and Lombardo finished 2-for-5 while scoring twice.
- Senior Riley Weis threw 105 pitches during his 5.0 innings of action, allowing four runs on six hits and two walks while striking out six.
- Senior Matt Lawler provided 4.0 shutout innings of relief, scattering two hits while striking out one hitter (4-2).
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