DAVENPORT, Fla. – The William Paterson baseball team (6-1) bested its season-high mark for runs scored during a 14-4 victory that was called after seven innings against College of St. Scholastica (0-8) March 13 at the RussMatt Central Florida Invitational.


HOW IT HAPPENED:

• St. Scholastica struck first in the opening frame after plating a run on a dropped third strike with a runner in scoring position. 
• William Paterson got on the board after plating a pair of runs in the third. Graduate student Steven DiGirolamo poked a single through the left side with one out and classmate Colin Lombardo followed with a base on balls. They both came in to score on a costly throwing error on an infield single by junior Jake Lutz.
• The Saints got a run back in the bottom half of the third, but the Pioneers tacked on more runs in the fourth. Graduate student Carson Weis belted a leadoff double into right center and advanced to third on a single by sophomore Tyler Ruban. Weis scored on a balk before Ruban crossed home on a two-bagger to left center by sophomore Christian Hay. DiGirolamo then drove Hay in on an RBI single to extend the William Paterson lead to four (5-1).
• The Pioneers continued to apply pressure and added four runs in the fifth. Graduate student Dan Carter hit a leadoff infield single and after stealing second, scored on a triple by sophomore Tom Radigan. Ruban then recorded an RBI base hit and moved to second on a Hay single before Lombardo walked up to the dish with two outs and drove them both in to make it a 9-1 game.
• In the sixth, the Pioneers loaded the bases for Radigan and he drove in one on an RBI single. Despite William Paterson grounding into a double play during the ensuing at-bat, Carter came scampering home. With Weis standing on third, a wild pitch proved to be costly as he scored on the mishap for the Pioneers' 12th run of the afternoon.
• The Saints trimmed the deficit to nine (12-3) in the bottom of the sixth after a two-RBI double with two outs.   
• However, William Paterson got the two runs right back in the seventh. With one out and the bases loaded, Carter scored on a fielder's choice before Weis hit an RBI single to push the advantage back to 11 (14-3).
• After a scoreless bottom of the seventh, the game was called due to a mercy rule. 

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

• Graduate student Matt Lawler earned his first win of the season on the mound after striking out four in six innings of work with just three earned runs allowed.
• Lombardo batted 3-for-4 with two doubles, two RBI and a run scored.
• Weis went 3-for-5 at the dish with a double, two runs and an RBI.
• Carter crossed home twice during a two-hit outing with an RBI.
• Radigan tallied a pair of hits with two RBI and a run scored.
• Ruban posted a two-hit outing with two RBI and two runs.
• DiGirolamo and Hay each notched two hits, two runs and an RBI.
• The 14 runs were the most by the Pioneers in a game since May 21, 2022 when they bested Penn State Harrisburg, 15-8, in the NCAA Tournament.
• The Pioneers finished with a season-high 18 hits. 

 
UP NEXT:

• The Pioneers return to action at the RussMatt Central Florida Invitational on Tuesday, March 14, for a doubleheader against Oswego State with first pitch slated for 3:00 p.m.