On a raw 40-degree afternoon, the William Paterson baseball team opened its season with a 5-3 loss to the Stevens Institute of Technology at Dobbelaar Field in Hoboken, N.J.
Fans from both sides bundled up against the cold as umpires and head coaches exchanged lineup cards before first pitch.
William Paterson threatened early, loading the bases in the top of the first inning. Newcomer right fielder Matt Caruso grounded into a double play to end the rally. On the mound, opening-day starter and ace Rob Nathan worked a scoreless first inning, striking out two.
The Pioneers broke through in the second when second baseman Angel Colon launched a solo home run to right field for a 1-0 lead. Nathan followed with another shutdown frame, recording two more strikeouts in the bottom half.
Stevens answered in the middle innings. In the fourth, the Pioneers’ defense limited the damage. Sophomore catcher Alex Gomez threw out a runner attempting to steal second for the first out, and junior Avery Whitney made a diving catch to prevent two runs from scoring and end the threat.
Sophomore Jayden Villalta made his William Paterson debut in a pivotal moment, entering with the bases loaded and no outs. He induced a popout and recorded a strikeout, but Ducks designated hitter Garret Wolf delivered a two-run single on a full-count pitch to give Stevens a 3-1 lead. The Ducks added another run in the inning to extend the advantage to 4-1 after five.
The Pioneers’ bats cooled over the next three innings, managing just one hit — a seventh-inning single by left fielder Stephen Kubis.
Freshman JT DeRiso made his collegiate debut in the sixth and struck out six over 2 2/3 innings. He allowed one hit and one earned run while walking four. The lone hit he surrendered was a solo home run to Wolf in the eighth.
William Paterson attempted a ninth-inning rally, scoring on a single to right field by designated hitter Devin Daproza. The comeback bid ended when Kubis struck out looking to seal the 5-3 final.
The Pioneers open the season at 0-1 and will return home for an eight-game homestand, beginning with a doubleheader against Mount Aloysius on Saturday, Feb. 21, at 11 a.m. at Jeff Albies Field.
