MONTCLAIR, N.J. – Fourth-seeded William Paterson (25-14, 12-6 NJAC) suffered a 9-2 loss at third-seeded Montclair State (26-9, 12-6 NJAC) May 5 in the first round of the double-elimination New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) Baseball Tournament.
The Pioneers will face top-seeded and 19th-ranked Rowan (29-11, 13-5 NJAC) in an elimination game Saturday, May 6, at 3:30 p.m. at Kean University's Jim Hynes Stadium. Kean will host the remainder of the NJAC Tournament Saturday-Monday, May 6-8.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- The Red Hawks used a walk, hit by pitch, base hit, double and single to score three times during the home half of the second inning.
- MSU added five more in the fourth off a pair of home runs for an 8-0 lead.
- Junior left fielder Noah Cabassa sent a one-out pitch to center in the fifth, senior third baseman David Backo walked and graduate student second baseman Colin Lombardo singled to left, plating one run.
- A Cabassa walk and Backo RBI-double made it an 8-2 score in the seventh.
- A solo homer finished the Red Hawks' scoring during the bottom of the seventh inning.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
- Lombardo was 1-for-2 with two walks and an RBI. Backo finished 1-for-3 with an RBI-double, and Cabassa went 1-for 3 and scored twice.
- Junior Ian Metzger allowed eight runs, eight hits and four walks during 4.0 innings (2-3).
- Sophomore Matt Lemieux gave up five hits and one run, striking out two over 2.1 innings. Sophomore Pat Pantoliano scattered a hit and two walks during 1.1 innings of work, and freshman Chris Quartuccio retired the only batter he faced.
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