LANCASTER, PA - Anthony Mazzo went three-for-five, including a two run homer in the top of the second inning, to lead the William Paterson Pioneers to a 14-3 victory over Franklin & Marshall College in non-conference baseball action.
William Paterson jumped on the board first in the top of the first inning off starting pitcher Dave Stahlman (Sr., Topeka, KS/Washburn Rural) as Rick Pignatello was hit by a pitch then stole second base before moving to third off a Tim Banos' sacrifice bunt. He later scored on Joe Hernandez's RBI ground out to shortstop to put the Pioneers in front to stay.
In the top of the second, Paterson added to the lead with five runs, including Mazzo's two run blast to leftfield. The Pioneers tacked on four runs in the third and one in the fifth for an 11-0 lead.
The Diplomats chipped away at the lead in the bottom of the fourth as Chris Smith (So., Fairfax Station, VA/Robinson) lofted the first pitch of the inning over the left field fence to record his second home run of season. Two batters latter Tony Breslau (Sr., Philadelphia, PA/Chestnut Hill Academy) doubled and later scored on a Gary Kruger (So., East Islip, NY/East Islip) sacrifice fly to center field to cut the margin to nine runs.
However, Paterson tacked on a pair of runs in the fifth before F&N scored again when Gordie Eck (Sr., Columbia, PA/Lancaster Catholic) doubled and scored on a double by Dan Hanecak (So., Conestoga, PA/Lancaster Catholic).
William Paterson added a run in the eighth to close out the scoring as the Diplomats fall to 11-8 on the year, 3-1 in Centennial Conference play.
The Diplomats will return to the field on March 30 at home versus Centennial Conference foe Ursinus College. Game time is set for 3:00 p.m. at Caplan Field.
William Paterson (9-4, 0-0 NJAC) 1-5-4 1-2-0 0-1-0 14-16-1
Franklin & Marshall (11-8, 3-1 CC) 0-0-0 2-1-0 0-0-0 3-8-6
E - F&M - Stahlman, Georgiou, Eck, Smith, Kruger, Compitello, WP - Prankewitz; LOB - WP - 10, F&M - 5; 2B - WP - Banos, Hernandez, Bucio, F&M - Breslau, Eck, Hanecak, Compitello; HR - WP - Mazzo, F&M - Smith; SB - WP- Pignatello, Rivera; CS - F&M - Caruthers
