WAYNE, N.J. – Senior Tom Gaccione (Little Falls, N.J./Passaic Valley Regional) threw a complete-game shutout and sophomore catcher Mike Knauf (Manalapan, N.J./Manalapan) was 3-for-3 at the plate with two RBI as the William Paterson baseball team (18-9, 5-7 NJAC) defeated visiting Rutgers-Newark (10-20, 1-11 NJAC), 6-0, April 17.
The Pioneers struck immediately with a pair of first-inning runs. Junior left fielder Tyler Garguilo (Paramus, N.J./Paramus) drilled a ball up the middle and sophomore center fielder Mike Abate (Wayne, N.J./Wayne Hills) sent a high chopper through the hole on the right side to leave runners on the corners with one out. A wild pitch allowed Garguilo to touch home, and junior right fielder Jimmy Kenny (Fairfield, N.J./West Essex Regional) plated Abate with an RBI-single down the left-field line.
Garguilo led off the bottom of the fifth with a base hit down the line in left and was sacrificed to second by Abate before junior third baseman K.C. Abel (Wayne, N.J./Wayne Valley) was hit by a pitch. Kenny singled in Garguilo, and freshman designated hitter Jordan Aughey (Wanaque, N.J./Lakeland Regional) doubled off the left-field fence to score Abel. Kenny later crossed home thanks to a sacrifice fly to center by Knauf and WP owned a 5-0 advantage.
Junior shortstop Victor Sanchez (Haverstraw, N.Y./North Rockland) started the home half of the eighth with a base hit to center, stole second and third, then sprinted home for a 6-0 edge when Knauf hit a grounder straight down into the ground and the third baseman, catcher and pitcher couldn't make a play on it time.
Kenny finished 2-for-4 with a pair of RBI and a runs scored, while Garguilo, Abate and Aughey each contributed two hits.
Gaccione (4-1) scattered five hits during his first career complete game, striking out four and walking two.
Junior center fielder Ryan MacFarlane went 2-for-4 for the Scarlet Raiders. Senior Andrew Nasti gave up five runs and 11 hits over 4.1 innings, posting a pair of strikeouts (0-5). Freshman Dominick Fazio tossed 2.2 scoreless innings and registered a strikeout and a walk, while classmate Brian Boulineau surrendered one run off two hits in the eighth.
William Paterson will host Rowan for a doubleheader Saturday, April 18, at 11:30 a.m.
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