Box Score

 Wayne, NJ … The College of New Jersey dropped a 5-2 decision to William Paterson University in a New Jersey Athletic Conference make-up game held on Monday afternoon.
 
Three defensive miscues by the Lions (13-14, 5-5 NJAC) and the play of Pioneer outfielder AJ Flores led WPU (20-7, 8-2 NJAC) to its 20^th win of the season. They are currently tied for first place in the NJAC standings, while TCNJ is tied for fifth with Richard Stockton College and a half game behind Rowan University. They play both teams later in their conference schedule.
 
TCNJ had trouble manufacturing runs as they were held scoreless through the first six frames. They had a pair of runners on base in the second inning and rapped out three hits in the fifth, but were unable to push a runner across home plate.
 
In the meantime, the Pioneers built a 5-0 lead. Flores and Vin Fondacaro each stroked run-scoring singles in the third. WPU tacked on three more in the sixth. A fielder's choice brought in a run before Flores struck again with a two-run single up the middle.
 
Trailing by five entering the seventh, TCNJ finally broke through when sophomore Jake DeWitt (Florence, NJ/Florence) served a base hit to right field to open the inning. Freshman Pat Roberts (Hillsborough, NJ/Hillsborough) followed with a triple to center field to draw within four. With one out, rookie outfielder Mark Mari (Bayonne, NJ/Seton Hall Prep) doubled to left-center to score Roberts and make it a 5-2 game.
 
The Pioneers shut down the rally when senior Scott Kelly (West Windsor, NJ/West Windsor-North) lined a shot to right field that was caught by Flores. Mari attempted to tag from third, but was cut down at the plate to end the inning.
 
In the ninth, WPU buckled defensively as a pair of infield errors and a base on balls loaded the bases with one out. But freshman closer Frankie Colasante was able to secure the final two outs and record his fourth save of the season.
 
DeWitt, Mari, senior Michael Murphy (Staten Island, NY/Staten Island Tech), and sophomore Josh Limon (Eastampton, NJ/Rancocas Valley) each had two hits in the game.
 
Senior Robert Graber (Franklin Lakes, NJ/Ramapo) pitched eight innings in the tough-luck loss, striking out three, and walking none. Only two of the five runs that scored were earned.
 
Flores finished with three hits, while Rob Pasternak and Mike Arnold chipped in with two hits each. James Young (2-1) came out of the bullpen to gain the mound decision.
 
TCNJ will play their fourth game in three days tomorrow when they host non-conference opponent Penn State-Abington tomorrow at 3:30 p.m. at George Ackerman Park.