WAYNE, N.J. (February 24, 2017)  – All nine batters reached base at least once, but the Stevens Institute of Technology baseball team played to a 5-5 tie with William Paterson in a non-conference matchup Friday afternoon.

Junior Quinn DiPasquale and senior Zeph Walters combined to scatter eight hits and senior Nolan Bennett singled and drove in a run for the Ducks in a game originally scheduled for Saturday afternoon, but was moved up a day to avoid inclement weather. The game was halted due to darkness after the completion of the seventh inning.

Chris Babb pitched three scoreless innings in relief and designated hitter has a bases-loaded double in the fifth for the Pioneers, who were playing in their season opener. 

"A much better effort today, in terms of energy," head coach Kristaps Aldins said. "We are a talented team, but some of our guys are still learning how to play the full nine innings."

Stevens opened the game's scoring in the third. Sophomore Donny Gherardi worked a two-out walk off starter Eric Rosenberg. Bennett and Walters followed with back-to-back playing the Ducks second-place hitter. 

It was a one-out rally by Stevens in their half of the fourth that chased Rosenberg from the game and opened a 4-0 lead. Senior Michael Mule' singled and stole second. Senior P.J. Wiegartner reached on an error by third baseman Bernard Brito and then successfully executed a double steal, The nimble movements on the basepaths forced a throwing error by catcher XXX, plating Mule'. Freshman Michael Falcon kept the line moving with his first collegiate hit and senior Harrison Kaye poked one into center to score Wiegartner from third. Sophomore Carlos Leon walked to load the bases. Gherardi struck out swinging for the second out but Rosenberg hit Bennett to force in another run and end his afternoon.

In his second start of the season, DiPasquale kept William Paterson off the board until the fifth. After retiring the first two batters of the frame, DiPasquale hit Mike Rowe. Anthony Hoagland doubled into left center for the Pioneers first run of the game. Eriq Colon reached on a Leon fielding error and reached second on a wild pitch. Mike Knauf walked to lead the bases, which Perez promptly cleared with a long double to right center.

Walters moved from his designated hitter position to the mound in relief of DiPasquale and promptly struck out Brito to end the threat.

Walters walked Colon with the bases full in the sixth for the final run of the game.

"Quinn and Zeph both pitched very well and Nolan did a great job behind the dish," Aldins added. "Our infielders also made some key plays when the conditions got dark pretty quickly."

Up Next: Stevens returns to the friendly confines of Dobbelaar Field, hosting NJAC-foe Rowan on Sunday. First pitch is scheduled for 2:30 p.m.

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