Union, N.J. (5/3/16) – The William Paterson University baseball team used timely hitting and took advantage of a costly miscue to upset top-seeded Kean University by the final of 5-3 in the opening round of the New Jersey Athletic Conference Tournament.
Graduate student K.C. Abel was 2-for-4 with three RBI and two doubles leading William Paterson (21-18). Senior Andy Lopez was 3-for-4 with an RBI for the Cougars (24-15).
Despite outhitting the Pioneers (Kean had 14 hits on the afternoon) WP was able to convert three double plays and stranded nine Cougar runners.
Senior Mitch D'Amato (7-2) allowed three runs and all 14 hits in eight innings of work. Sophomore Bryan Kopko (7) picked up the save with a shutout inning of work in the ninth.
William Paterson struck first with a single run in the fourth as Abel doubled with one out, driving home Mike Abate who led off the inning with a single.
Kean responded in the same inning and took a 2-1 lead as senior Ryan Kelley led things off with a single. Classmate Sal Taormina lined a shot down the line on a hit-and-run that moved Kelley to third. Lopez then tied the game up at one-all with an RBI single. Senior Ryan Reitmeyer put Kean in the lead later in the inning with a sacrifice fly.
The Pioneers loaded the bases in their half of the fifth with three singles sandwiched around a nicely timed defensively play from the Cougars. Victor Sanchez then reached on an infield miscue, forcing in the tying run. Abel came through again with a two RBI double in the gap to put WP up for good.
The teams traded runs in the ninth inning, but Kopko was able to seal the win to hold off any Kean rally.
Shayne Fontana, Matt Meleo, Tyler Heisch and Kelley all had multi-hits for the Cougars. Senior Chris Amato (5-3) suffered the loss for Kean after the complete game effort scattering 10 hits and four earned runs.
Kean awaits their opponent in the consolation bracket to be played at home on Thursday as the #2 The College of New Jersey/#5 Montclair State University matchup was postponed today. The TCNJ/MSU contest will take place on Wednesday at Jim Hynes Stadium at 3:30 p.m. William Paterson will face the loser of the #3 Ramapo College/#4 Rowan University contest currently in action.
