WINTER HAVEN, Fla. – For the second straight day, Endicott's baseball team suffered defeat at the RussMatt Central Florida Invitational, falling 10-3 on Friday morning to William Paterson University.
The Pioneers (9-3) outhit the Gulls (4-2) twenty to five, with eight players on William Paterson collecting two or more hits on the day.
Endicott managed just a run in the second and two runs in the fifth, each of which tied the game at the time. William Paterson, who scored in the final five innings of the game, answered in the bottom of the fifth with three runs to reclaim a 6-3 lead.
Sophomore second baseman Harry Oringer (Dartmouth, Mass.) continued a strong showing in Florida with a 1-3 day that included an RBI. Designated hitter Nick Quattro (Canton, Mass.) had a base-hit in two at bats and drove in a run for the Gulls as well.
Outfielders Ryan Gibbons (Glen Rock, N.J.) and AJ Flores (West Orange, N.J.) combined for five hits, four runs scored and four RBIs at the top of the Pioneer lineup.
After William Paterson scored an unearned run in the first inning, the Gulls answered in the top of the second when shortstop Cody Hall (Rutland, Mass.) reached on a fielder's choice, then proceeded to steal second and third before scoring on an error.
The Pioneers struck back with two runs in the fourth, as Vin Fondacaro (Pompton Plains, N.J.) and Rich Guillod (Closter, N.J.) picked up RBIs. The Gulls again tied the score a half-inning later, with Quattro plating Steve Morganelli (Milford, Mass.) with a groundout and Oringer bringing home third baseman Greg Heineman (Wilbraham, Mass.) with a single.
The Pioneers slowly broke the game open over the next four frames, starting with a two-run double by Gibbons in the bottom of the fifth. Junior Scott Ptaszynski (Wharton, N.J.) singled home Guillod in the sixth and then scored in a two-run eighth, where Rob Pasternak (South Plainfield, N.J.) and freshman Jimmy Kenny (Fairfield, N.J.) picked up RBI singles.
Endicott righty Tyler Hill (Las Vegas, Nev.) suffered the defeat on the mound, allowing six earned runs on 12 hits in five innings of work.
Junior Josh Jensen (West Milford, N.J.) picked up the victory for the Pioneers, allowing two earned runs over seven innings. Jensen struck out four batters but did issue six free passes.
Endicott finishes off their Florida trip Saturday with a double-header against Trinity College. First pitch of the opening game is at 12:30 pm at Lake Myrtle Field.
The Pioneers will pack their bags and return home from the Sunshine State, where they will be off until Wednesday, when they travel to Hoboken for a 7:00 pm game against Stevens Tech.
