The William Paterson Pioneers continued their roller coaster season, splitting a series against Rutgers Newark, but letting a late lead slip away in game two.
On Thursday in game one, senior right fielder Jordan Brown led the team with three hits and a clutch RBI, giving William Paterson a late lead. Freshman JT Pugliese earned his second win of the season after a strong relief outing.
On Friday in game two, the Pioneers collapsed, surrendering a 5-0 lead before losing in 10 innings.
In game one, freshman JT DeRiso got the start for the Pioneers. Rutgers Newark jumped on him early, as junior catcher Joseph Bernado and junior first baseman RJ Kernan each delivered RBIs in the first inning. DeRiso settled in after that, recording the final two outs without further damage.
William Paterson responded with a two run first inning. Junior second baseman Devin Daproza reached base to spark the rally, stole second, and advanced to third on a balk by Scarlet Raider starting pitcher Chase Ostrowski. Freshman designated hitter Matt Caruso followed with an RBI double to left field, and later scored on a sacrifice fly by junior first baseman Ty Kobylakiewicz, tying the game at two.
Both starters found a rhythm in the middle innings. DeRiso delivered three scoreless frames, not allowing a runner past second base. The Pioneers took a 3-2 lead in the fourth inning when junior Stephen Kubis scored on a double to center by Brown.
Rutgers Newark answered in the fifth. Senior shortstop Michael Weinbel hit a solo home run to tie the game, and a two out rally followed. Kernan doubled, freshman third baseman Jonathan Jerez singled and advanced on the throw, and junior designated hitter Malik Little drove in the go ahead run. DeRiso ended the inning with a strikeout of junior right fielder Daniel Fedorco.
The Pioneers bullpen shifted momentum in the sixth. Freshman reliever JT Pugliese entered and shut down Rutgers Newark, allowing two hits over three innings with two strikeouts.
William Paterson began to chip away at the deficit. Junior third baseman Angel Colon drove in Caruso in the sixth to cut the lead to one.
In the eighth, the Pioneers capitalized on Rutgers Newark mistakes. Sophomore center fielder Sean Lauterhahn doubled to start the inning and later scored to tie the game. The go ahead run came on a fielding error by freshman second baseman Damon Rivera.
Pugliese held the lead, and senior Nick Durso closed the game in the ninth. Pugliese earned the win, while Durso recorded his sixth save.
Game two in Newark started fast for the Pioneers. Daproza walked to open the game, Brown singled, and both eventually scored on sacrifice flies by Caruso and Kobylakiewicz for an early 2-0 lead.
William Paterson extended the lead to 4-0 in the second inning behind RBIs from sophomore Alex Gomez and Daproza. Starting pitcher Jose Marte kept Rutgers Newark off balance early, striking out five batters and escaping a bases loaded jam in the second.
Rutgers Newark starting pitcher Joey Santi settled in, retiring 10 straight batters, while Marte matched him with six scoreless innings.
The Pioneers pushed the lead to 5-0 in the seventh. Senior Dylan Santos singled and scored on a two out hit by Daproza.
The momentum quickly shifted. Rutgers Newark scored five runs in the bottom of the seventh against the bullpen, taking advantage of walks and a wild pitch to tie the game.
In the eighth, the Scarlet Raiders took their first lead. Jerez tripled and scored on a single by Fedorco to make it 6-5.
The Pioneers answered in the ninth. Santos singled, and sophomore outfielder Jesse Bash delivered a clutch pinch hit single to bring him home. Daproza followed with an RBI single to tie the game at six and force extra innings.
William Paterson went down in order in the 10th. Durso returned to the mound but ran into trouble, issuing multiple walks to load the bases. Senior outfielder Reid Duffus, who did play in the first game, ended the outing with a fielder’s choice, completing the comeback victory for Rutgers Newark.
The Pioneers are 10-15 and 4-4 in conference, sitting sixth in the NJAC; they’ll return to action Saturday, April 11, with a doubleheader at Kean University in Union, N.J.
