By: By Michael L. Damon
Box Score Box Score
Wayne, N.J. — The John Jay baseball team led nearly every step of the way, but an error in the bottom of the eighth inning allowed a pair of unearned runs to come across the plate as the Bloodhounds were defeated by William Paterson University 6-5 at Pioneer Baseball Park.
John Jay, now 8-22 this season, was led by senior
John Massoni (Staten Island, NY, St. Peter's Boys)who was 3-for-5 with an RBI. Meanwhile teammate
Edwin Hernandez (Brooklyn, NY, Murry Bergtraum)was 2-for-4 with two runs and an RBI.
The Bloodhounds got two runs across the plate in the top of the first to grab a 2-0 advantage. The first five batters in the inning reached base before the William Paterson starting pitcher struck out the side as John Jay left the bases loaded in the first. Massoni ripped an RBI single to center to score Hernandez who led off the game with an infield hit. Later in the inning,
Jason Witten singled up the middle to score
James Podlucky (Staten Island, NY, IMG Academy) who walked to get on and was 1-for-4 with a pair of runs.
The host Pioneers scored in the bottom of the first to cut the lead in half. But John Jay went back to work in the second inning with three runs to increase the lead to 5-1. The first four batters reached base in the frame. An RBI triple by Hernandez drove in
Steven Kendrick who led off with a walk. Then an infield hit by Podlucky scored Hernandez. Moments later a sacrifice fly by
Xavier Perez (Bronx, NY, Manhattan Center) scored Podlucky as the Bloodhounds were up 5-1.
William Paterson chipped away in the middle innings. The William Paterson relief pitching proceeded to retire the next nine batters to stay in the game.
In the process, William Paterson scored a run in the fourth and two in the fifth to pull to within a run as John Jay led 5-4 after five innings.
The score remained 5-4 into the bottom of the eighth when the Pioneers capitalized on John Jay miscues and took the lead with two unearned runs.
John Jay battled back in the ninth though and had the tying run on second with two outs. But the Bloodhounds failed to get the run in as William Paterson escaped with a victory.
Michael Colletta (Staten Island, NY, New Dorp) went 5.0 innings and allowed four runs (three earned) on seven hits with five strikeouts en route to the no decision.
Johan Abad (Corona, NY, Flushing) picks up the loss. He allowed no earned runs over 3.0 innings and struck out one.
John Jay returns to action on Thu. Apr. 23 at Mount Saint Mary's at 5 p.m.
