AUBURNDALE, FLA. – The William Paterson baseball team (6-4) split a seven-inning doubleheader March 14 against Franklin and Marshall (5-5), dropping the first game, 1-0, before taking the night cap, 5-3.
Game One
One unearned run was the difference during the opening game of the day.
Diplomat senior first baseman Luke Seib struck out to start the top of the fourth inning, but reached first on a passed ball. Two singles and a fielder's choice pushed across the game's lone run.
WP had a runner on third with one out in the fourth, and a runner on second with one out during the bottom of the seventh, but couldn't come up with the equalizer.
Graduate student third baseman K.C. Abel (Wayne, N.J./Wayne Valley) and senior right fielder Jimmy Kenny (Fairfield, N.J./West Essex Regional) each had a hit for the Pioneers. Senior Mitch D'Amato (Edison, N.J./Edison) pitched the complete game, scattering five hits while posting four strikeouts and a walk (2-1).
Five different Diplomats had a single. Junior Eric Bateman (1-1) allowed one hit over 6.0 innings with four strikeouts and two walks. Sophomore Andrew Mascis picked up his second save with 1.0 inning of one-hit relief, registering one punchout.
Game Two
William Paterson scored four first-inning runs en route to a 5-3 victory.
Junior center fielder Mike Abate (Wayne, N.J./Wayne Hills) led off the first with a single to third, stole second and scored when Abel doubled down the right-field line. A Kenny hit by pitch and a walk from sophomore designated hitter Anthony Hoagland (Dumont, N.J./Dumont) loaded the bases with one out, and senior second baseman Justin Ferreira (Elmwood Park, N.J./Elmwood Park Memorial) plated two runners with a base hit up the middle. Senior first baseman Jon Bujtas' (Boonton, N.J./Seton Hall Prep) sacrifice fly handed WP a 4-0 edge.
Three straight singles and a double got two runs back for Franklin and Marshall during the home half of the first, and a double and single made it a 4-3 game in the third.
Abel had a one-out base hit in the fourth and reached second thanks to an error on a strikeout. Hoagland's RBI-single to left center pushed the Pioneers ahead by a 5-3 count.
Ferreira was 2-for-3 with two RBI, while Abel finished 2-for-4 with an RBI and a pair of runs scored.
Freshman Kevin Ludden (Monroe, N.J./Monroe Twp.) tossed 3.2 innings as the starter, giving up three runs on eight hits while posting two strikeouts and a walk. Classmate Eric Rosenberg (Paramus, N.J./Paramus) allowed one hit while striking out one in 2.1 innings of work (1-0), and sophomore Bryan Kopko (Colonia, N.J./Colonia) picked up his first save of the year while surrendering one seventh-inning hit.
Senior designated hitter Mike Smerligio led F&M at the plate, going 2-for-3 with two RBI. Junior starter Sam Ackerman took the loss (0-1), giving up five runs (four earned) and seven hits over 4.0 innings with five strikeouts and three walks.
William Paterson will take on RPI Tuesday, March 15, at 9:00 a.m. at the Central Florida Invitational.
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