MONTCLAIR, N.J. – The William Paterson baseball team (15-12, 4-4 NJAC) pushed across a pair of ninth-inning runs to knot the score at 2-2, but host Montclair State (13-13, 4-4 NJAC) came up with the winning run during the bottom of the 11th for a 3-2 victory April 15.
The Red Hawks crossed the plate twice during the home half of the third. Base hits by junior catcher Aaron Kane and freshman shortstop Justin Epifanio were followed by a Ryan Long sacrifice bunt and a Matt Long walk to load the bases with one out. Sophomore second baseman Joe Foote singled in Kane and junior center fielder Philip Scott singled in Epifanio for a 2-0 advantage.
Graduate student shortstop K.C. Abel (Wayne, N.J./Wayne Valley) started the top of the ninth by drawing a walk and junior catcher Mike Knauf (Manalapan, N.J./Manalapan) singled and was lifted for senior pinch runner Justin Ferreira (Elmwood Park, N.J./Elmwood Park Memorial). Abel then stole third and senior right fielder Jimmy Kenny (Fairfield, N.J./West Essex Regional) was hit by a pitch to load the bags with zero outs. Sophomore first baseman Anthony Hoagland(Dumont, N.J./Dumont) followed with an RBI-single, and after a strikeout, senior third baseman Victor Sanchez (Haverstraw, N.Y./North Rockland) hit a sac fly to center that tied the game at 2-2. Senior pinch hitter Jon Bujtas (Boonton, N.J./Seton Hall Prep) walked to again load the bases, but a groundout ended the inning.
MSU had a runner on second base with one out during the home half of the ninth, but a lineout and flyout ended the threat. WP had runners on first and second with two outs in the 10th, and a runner on third with two outs in the 11th, but could not come up with a hit.
Scott started the bottom of the 11th inning with a single, and a grounder back to the pitcher resulted in an errant throw that left two on with no one out. A hit by pitch loaded the bases, and a ground ball was thrown to the plate for the force out. Pinch hitter Dom Lampasona then singled into right field for the game-winning RBI.
Seven different Pioneers had a hit, and Hoagland and Sanchez each contributed an RBI.
Sophomore pitcher Mario Danza (Monroe, N.J./Monroe Twp.) faced one batter in the ninth, allowing two runs on eight hits and three walks with one strikeout. Sophomore Bryan Kopko (Colonia, N.J./Colonia) pitched the final 2.1 innings and surrendered two hits, one run and a walk while striking out one (3-1).
Foote and Scott were both 2-for-5 with an RBI for Montclair State. Junior Donald Cusick started on the mound, giving up two runs on six hits and a walk with five strikeouts in 8.0 innings. Sophomore Taylor Parsons picked up the win with 3.0 innings of one-hit ball while registering two walks and a pair of strikeouts (3-2).
William Paterson will host a doubleheader against Stockton Saturday, April 16, at 11:30 a.m.
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