JERSEY CITY, N.J. – William Paterson (20-18, 9-9 NJAC) punched its ticket for the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) Baseball Tournament with a 13-5, 10-3 sweep at New Jersey City (15-23, 1-17 NJAC) April 30.
Sixth-seeded WP will play at top-seeded Kean (25-13, 14-4 NJAC) in the first round of the double-elimination tourney Tuesday, May 3, at 3:30 p.m.
Game One
An eight-run second inning was more than enough as the Pioneers started the day with a 13-5 victory.
Senior left fielder Jimmy Kenny (Fairfield, N.J./West Essex Regional) opened the top of the second inning with a double to center, followed by an infield base hit by junior catcher Mike Knauf (Manalapan, N.J./Manalapan) and junior designated hitter Eriq Colon's (Hackensack, N.J./Hackensack) RBI-single through the left side of the infield. After an infield hit by sophomore second baseman Rob Eggert (South Plainfield, N.J./South Plainfield) loaded the bases, sophomore right fielder Anthony Hoagland(Dumont, N.J./Dumont) launched a grand slam over the right-field fence, making it a 5-0 score. A popup resulted in the first out of the inning, then junior center fielder Mike Abate (Wayne, N.J./Wayne Hills) walked, senior third baseman Victor Sanchez (Haverstraw, N.Y./North Rockland) singled to right center and another popup left runners on first and second with two outs. Kenny doubled in two runs, and an error allowed Kenny to cross the plate to make it an 8-0 margin.
Doubles by second baseman Jeff Reinecke and sophomore center fielder Dmitri Rueger handed the Gothic Knights a single run in the bottom of the third.
A double down the left-field line by graduate student shortstop K.C. Abel (Wayne, N.J./Wayne Valley), a Kenny groundout and a Knauf single to left pushed the Pioneers' advantage to 9-1 during the top of the fourth inning.
Hoagland's solo homer to right, a Garret Wiedemann (Paramus, N.J./Paramus) triple to left and an Abate run-scoring groundout added two more WP runs in the top of the fifth.
Reinecke drew a leadoff walk, and a groundout, Rueger single up the middle and senior catcher Andrew Niech double to right center added two NJCU runs in the fifth. Two batters later, junior shortstop Zach Buchholz had an RBI-single up the middle to make it an 11-4 game.
Knauf hit a leadoff double to left-center field, Eggert posted a base hit to second base and Wiedemann reached first on a throwing error by the catcher with two outs in the sixth. Abate's bases-loaded walk and Sanchez's run-scoring single through the left side pushed the Pioneers' lead to 13-4.
Sophomore first baseman Dan Berardi's homer to open the bottom of the sixth tacked on a single run for New Jersey City.
Hoagland went 2-for-5 with a grand slam, solo home run and five RBI. Knauf was 3-for-5 with a double, RBI and two runs scored, while Abate and Kenny each contributed a pair of RBI.
Sophomore starter Mario Danza (Monroe, N.J./Monroe Twp.) pitched 8.0 innings, allowing five runs on 14 hits and a walk while striking out two (1-1). Freshman Chris Phillips (Wayne, N.J./Wayne Hills) gave up a hit and recorded a strikeout during the ninth inning.
Niech was 2-for-5 with a double, two RBI and a run scored for NJCU. Freshman Anthony Carfora surrendered 11 runs (10 earned) on 13 hits and three walks with two strikeouts over 5.0 innings (1-4). Junior Joe Stone tossed 4.0 innings and allowed five hits, two unearned runs and two walks while registering four strikeouts.
Game Two
WP took advantage of 10 walks and five New Jersey City errors for a 10-3 win.
Abate started the game with a base on balls, stole second and was out at third on a fielder's choice that left Sanchez on second base. A groundout advanced Sanchez 90 feet, and he touched home when Kenny hit an infield single.
The Pioneers added five more in the sixth inning. Abate was issued a base on balls, Sanchez reached on an error and Abel sacrificed before Kenny was intentionally walked to load the bases. Back-to-back walks by Knauf and Hoagland plated two runs, and after a strikeout, Colon struck out swinging, but a passed ball and throwing error by the catcher allowed all three Pioneers on base to score, pushing it to a 6-0 margin.
Abate opened the seventh with a hit by pitch, and an error on a Sanchez bunt and an Abel sacrifice were followed by an intentional walk issued to Kenny. Knauf's infield single plated Abate, and Hoagland's hit by pitch forced across Sanchez to extend the lead to 8-0.
Three consecutive base hits put the Gothic Knights on the board during the bottom of the seventh inning, and they added two more in the eighth thanks to a Niech solo homer, Nick Ruscingno walk, Buchholz base hit and CJ Pulcine fielder's choice.
The Pioneers finished the scoring with a two-run ninth inning. Kenny tripled to left field, Knauf reached first on a strikeout/passed ball, and an error on the play allowed Kenny to touch home. A Hoagland fielder's choice was followed by bases on balls for Eggert and Colon, and Hoagland scored via a Wiedemann fielder's choice.
Kenny finished 2-for-3 with a triple, RBI and two runs scored. Knauf had the only other WP hit, going 1-for-4 with two RBI and a run scored.
Freshman Eric Rosenberg (Paramus, N.J./Paramus) gave up one run on seven hits, striking out three over 7.0 innings (3-1). Sophomore Bryan Kopko (Colonia, N.J./Colonia) pitched the final 2.0 innings and allowed two runs on two hits and a walk while striking out two.
Ruscingno, Reinecke and freshman right fielder Sean Erhardt each had two hits for NJCU. Freshman starter Elijah Pereira took the loss (2-3) after surrendering one hit, six runs (one earned) and six walks in 5.1 innings on the mound.
For all of the latest information on the Pioneers, visit http://www.wpupioneers.com and http://www.wpupioneers.com/socialmedia.