WAYNE, N.J. – The William Paterson baseball team (11-27, 6-12 NJAC) celebrated Senior Day with a 7-12, 7-3 doubleheader split against Rutgers-Camden (26-13, 11-7 NJAC) during the Pioneers' season finale April 27.
GAME ONE
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- A bases-loaded double and a safety squeeze handed the Scarlet Raptors a 4-0 edge during the top of the fourth inning.
- The Pioneers got three of those runs back during the home half of the same inning. Junior catcher Austin Jack singled through the left side and senior left fielder Noah Cabassa walked before senior center fielder Jake Lutz blasted a home run to left.
- A two-run homer made it a 6-3 game in the top of the fifth.
- WP jumped ahead by a 7-6 count in the sixth. Junior third baseman Tyler Ruban was hit by a pitch, then advanced to third on a failed pickoff attempt. After a strikeout, Jack doubled in the runner, then he moved to third via a passed ball. Cabassa was hit by a pitch and Lutz walked, loading the bases for junior shortstop Tom Radigan, who delivered an RBI-groundout. The tying run crossed home thanks to a wild pitch, and freshman first baseman Ty Kobylakiewicz handed the Pioneers the lead with a run-scoring single up the middle.
- Rutgers-Camden answered with a two-run seventh, stringing together an error, two walks and a base hit for an 8-7 edge.
- The Scarlet Raptors tacked one on in the eighth with a single and double, then produced three in the ninth on a walk, double, fielder's choice, squeeze bunt, double and base hit.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
- Lutz was 2-for-3 with a homer, three RBI and two runs scored.
- Jack went 2-for-4 and added a double, RBI and two runs.
- Junior Chase Geisler surrendered six runs on six hits and two walks, striking out one batter in 5.2 innings.
- Junior Neel Telidevara gave up one hit, two runs (one earned) and three walks in 0.1 inning of relief (0-2).
- Junior Nick Diaz worked 1.0 inning of one-run ball, allowing a hit and striking out one.
- Junior Nick Estes tossed 1.0 inning and surrendered one hit.
- Freshman Kevin Reiner was charged with three runs, two hits and a walk over 0.2 inning.
- Sophomore Cole McGregor pitched 0.1 inning and gave up two hits.
GAME TWO
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Rutgers-Camden seized a 1-0 lead in the third after a single, failed pickoff and sac fly.
- The Pioneers matched the score during their next at-bat, using a single by junior right fielder Gio Aresta, a walk by junior second baseman Ruven Pino, a sacrifice bunt by Radigan and a sac fly by Lutz.
- WP built a 3-1 advantage in the fourth, thanks to a Christian Hay single to center, a Jack double to left and a two-run Aresta base hit into center field.
- Junior designated hitter RJ Mehnert's solo shot to center pushed the lead to 4-1 after five frames.
- A bases-loaded hit by pitch forced across a Rutgers-Camden run in the sixth, 4-2.
- Mehnert's second homer of the game extended the lead to 5-2 after seven innings.
- The Scarlet Raptors hit a solo home run of their own during the top of the eighth inning.
- WP crossed home twice during the home half of the eighth. Pino singled to right center, Radigan walked and Lutz sent an RBI-single through the left side. Kobylakiewicz's base hit to center made it a 7-3 game.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
- Mehnert was 2-for-5 with two home runs.
- Aresta finished 2-for-4 while adding two RBI and a run scored, and Lutz went 1-for-3 and contributed two RBI.
- Freshman Robert Nathan went 5.0 innings, scattering two runs (one earned) and four hits while striking out five (3-3).
- Senior Darmany Rivas scattered one run and five hits over 4.0 innings, walking one and striking out six to earn his first save of the year.
- Following the doubleheader, the Pioneers honored their seven seniors – Cabassa, Dan Castaneda, Lutz, Elian Mendez, Ian Metzger, Nick Nielson and Rivas.
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