WAYNE, N.J. (February 18, 2023) – Senior Justin Doyle threw seven strong innings to lead the Stevens Institute of Technology baseball team to a 5-1 victory over No. 16 William Paterson University Saturday in the opening game of a non-conference doubleheader at Jeff Albies Field.  

In game two, junior Christian Kreiser drove in three runs and senior Johnny Albrecht had a pinch-hit, two-RBI double, but the Ducks' rally fell just short in a 13-10 setback to the Pioneers. The doubleheader split left Stevens with a 3-1 record. 

Carson Weiss had an RBI groundout in game one and Steve Yelin and Jake Lutz each drove in three in game two to pace William Paterson, who closed play with a 1-1 record. The teams have split the last four meetings.

After a breakout junior campaign, Doyle (2-0) continued the strong start to his fourth season on Castle Point. The Louisville, Kentucky native didn't allow a hit until Yelin's leadoff double in the fourth inning. Yelin came around to score two batters later to spoil Doyle's shutout bid. Following the leadoff hit, Doyle allowed just one baserunner over the final four innings to earn his second victory. The right-hander walked one and struck out five and has allowed just two earned runs over 12 1-3 innings across his first two starts.

The Ducks wasted little time getting on the board against Ian Metzger (0-1). Senior Ben Tobio was hit by a pitch to lead off the game. Sophomore Liam DeRubertis walked one batter later. After a strikeout, Tonina drove a 1-2 pitch through the right side to score Tobio with the game's first run. Metzger allowed four runs, one earned, over 3 2-3 innings.

Stevens extended its lead in the third, taking advantage of a throwing error by shortstop Tyler Ruban to score a pair of runs on a double by Reyes and a groundout by sophomore Victor Schilleci. William Paterson finished the game with three errors, which led to single runs in the fourth and the sixth, with sophomore Zachary Boykin plating runs in each frame.
 
The Ducks again jumped on the board early in game two, with Kreiser driving in Tobio with an RBI double to right-center. However, William Paterson scored a pair of two-out runs on a bases-loaded walk and a hit-by-pitch against first-year Erik Sibbach (1-1) in the first. Colin Lombardo led off with an infield single. Yelin reached on a fielder's choice, where Lombardo beat the throw to third to place runners at the corners. After another fielder's choice produced the second out of the frame, Tom Radigan walked on seven pitches to drive in a run. Sibbach plunked Ruban two pitches later to force in the second run. Sibbach allowed six earned runs over 3 2-3 innings with one strikeout. 

The Ducks struck for three runs in the third against starter Nick Nielson on a bases-loaded walk and a two-run single by Schilleci to knot the score at four. Nielsen walked seven across 4 1-3 innings and did not factor into the decision. 

William Paterson regained the lead with three runs in the fourth and four more in the fifth off Sibbach and junior Axel Johnson to take an 11-4 lead. 

The Ducks began their climb back into the game in the sixth. Sophomore Evan Pravato was hit by a pitch leading off the frame. Pinch-hitter Daniel Roman walked. With two outs, Boykin plated the first run of the frame with an RBI single. DeRubertis and Kreiser followed with run-scoring singles as the Ducks scored three two-out runs. 

Lombardo's RBI double in the sixth proved to be an important insurance run, as was Jake Lutz's eighth-inning, two-out seeing-eye single through the left side. Albrecht had a bases-loaded double down the left-field line in the eighth to drive in a pair of runs, but Reyes fouled out to third to end the threat. 

The Ducks threatened in the ninth. Down four, pinch-hitter Chris Davis was hit by a pitch leading off the frame. Tobio walked on four pitches and both runners moved up on Boykin's grounder to first. DeRubertis lofted a sacrifice fly to center to plate Davis. Kreiser walked on four pitches and Tonina singled up the middle to load the bases to force a pitching change. However, Dan Castaneda induced a flyout to center to end the game and secure the save.

Up Next: Stevens and William Paterson will meet in the season finale Sunday at Dobbelaar Field. First pitch is scheduled for noon and links for live stats and video are posted to StevensDucks.com.

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