Auburndale, FL --- William Paterson freshman Jimmy Kenny (Fairfield, NJ) went 3-4 at the dish with a double and five RBI's to help lead the Pioneers past Worcester State, 10-5, in non-conference baseball action this evening in the Sunshine State.
With the win, William Paterson runs their record to 5-1 while the Lancers fall to 2-3 with the setback.
The Pioneers didn't waste any time jumping out to a 2-0 lead after the first half inning of play.
After a pair of walks and a hit batter loaded the bases with only one out, Kenny stepped to the plate and delivered a two-run single through the left side.
Worcester State senior right-hander Cruz Rosado (Clinton, MA/ Worcester Tech) then settled down and got out of the inning with a strikeout stranding runners at second and third preventing further damage.
The Lancers responded quickly in the bottom half of the frame with three straight singles to load the bases for senior Kurt Sabacinski (Worcester, MA/ St. Peter Marian) who hit a sacrifice fly to center field before third-year Joe Carlier (Rockland, MA) hit an RBI groundout to knot the score at 2-2.
William Paterson jumped back out in front in the top half of the second on an RBI double to right center by junior Scott Ptaszynski (Wharton, NJ).
The Pioneers tacked on two more in the fourth when Kenny doubled to center recording his third and fourth RBI's of the game making it 5-2.
Kenny collected his fifth run batted in of the game on a single in the sixth, which ignited a four run inning stretching the lead to 9-2.
After a double by junior Trevor Haughney (Old Bridge, NJ) put runners at second and third first-year K.C Abel (Wayne, NJ) singled to center field plating the seventh and eighth runs of the game for William Paterson.
Ptaszynski then drew a bases loaded walk to score the final score of the frame.
The Blue and Gold once again answered the call in the bottom half as sophomore David Ruggiero(Peabody, MA) sent the 0-2 offering over the left field fence for a solo home-run to cut into the deficit.
After a pair of singles and a wild pitch put runners on second and third, Carlier produced another RBI groundout to make the score 9-4 after six full innings of action.
William Paterson added an insurance run in the eighth inning on a sacrifice fly by third-year AJ Flores (West Orange, NJ).
The Lancers then tacked on a late run in the ninth when sophomore Zach George (Attleboro, MA) recorded a pinch-hit single and advanced home on a pair of wild pitches and a passed ball making the score 10-5.
Ptaszynski finished the day going 2-for-5 with a pair of RBI's while Haughney also recorded two base knocks including a double and scored twice.
Freshman Tyler Garguilo (Paramus, NJ) went 3-for-4 at the dish with a run scored and senior Ryan Gibbons (Glen Rock, NJ) scored three times.
Ruggerio ended the game 2-for-4 with two runs scored and the one long ball and senior Nick Gezotis (Westfield, MA) went 3-for-4 with an RBI for Worcester State.
Pioneer senior Steve Coral (Totowa, NJ) remained unbeaten on the season improving his record to 3-0 as he went seven strong yielding four runs all earned on seven hits while walking none and striking out four batters.
Rosado recorded his first decision of the young season with the loss (0-1) as he pitched four innings allowing five runs on five hits with five walks and a trio of strikeouts.
William Paterson out slugged the Lancers, 13-9, and committed zero defensive miscues.
The Blue and Gold continue their spring break trip tomorrow with a twin bill against #19 Trinity (CT) with the first game starting at 1 PM.
Story by John Hanna --- Sports Information Graduate Assistant