Box Score Video Highlights 

WAYNE, N.J. – The No. 17 William Paterson softball team (29-8, 15-3 NJAC) saw its rally fall short as the top-seeded Pioneers lost to sixth-seeded Rutgers-Camden (18-14-1, 9-9 NJAC), 5-4, May 1 in the opening round of the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) Tournament.
 
The 17th-ranked Pioneers will play fifth-seeded Richard Stockton Friday, May 2, at 11:00 a.m. in an elimination game at Pioneer Softball Field. William Paterson will serve as the host of the remainder of the tournament May 2-4.
 
The Scarlet Raptors got on the board during the top of the first, scoring three times with two outs to take an early 3-0 lead. Rutgers-Camden took advantage of a Katie Larson RBI-single, a Jessea Macaluso bases-loaded walk and an Allyson Potts run-scoring base hit.
 
Freshman right fielder Nicole Fryer (East Stroudsburg, Pa./East Stroudsburg South) and freshman third baseman Rachel Wasilak (Livingston, N.J./Livingston) drew back-to-back walks to start the bottom of the frame. After the runners advanced on a passed ball, senior shortstop Katelyn Miele (Flanders, N.J./Pope John XXIII) lined a shot inches inside the bag at third and down the line to bring the score to 3-2. The Pioneers proceeded to load the bases with no outs, but were unable to force across another run.   
 
The game was halted April 29 due to field conditions, as a steady drizzle fell and the wind chill was in the upper 30s. When the contest resumed May 1, it was under sunny skies and a light breeze with the temperature hovering in the upper 70s.
 
The date and weather change did little to cool off the Rutgers-Camden bats, as the Scarlet Raptors scored twice during the top of the second. Singles by sophomore pitcher Brittany Scott and junior shortstop Krystine Rice were followed by a Lindsay Day walk, loading the bases for Larson, who sent a two-run single into left field.
 
WP had its chances, putting two runners on with two outs in both the second and third innings, but could not come through with a run until the bottom of the fifth. Sophomore outfielder Kelsey Wimmershoff (Park Ridge, N.J./Park Ridge) reached base with one out due to a fielder's choice and junior designated Kristen Gardner (Audubon, Pa./Methacton) singled up the middle, followed by a base hit to right field by junior outfielder Kelsey Principe (Parsippany, N.J./Parsippany) to drive in Wimmershoff and make it a 5-3 deficit.
 
After a 1-2-3 top of the sixth, junior second baseman Christina Austin (Sewell, N.J./Washington Twp.) led off the bottom half of the frame with a single and error that left her at second base. She was sacrificed to third by Nicole Fryer and scored when Wasilak doubled to left field. However, the inning ended with a double play on a flyout and tag-out at third base when Wasilak attempted to advance.
 
Wasilak was 2-for-3 with the double, RBI and run scored. Miele added a pair of runs-batted-in.
 
Freshman pitcher Allison Podmajersky (Red Bank, N.J./Middletown South) started and finished the game inside the circle, tossing 6.0 innings and allowing three runs on two hits with four strikeouts and three walks (8-5). Classmate Gabrielle Castelli (Cedar Grove, N.J./Cedar Grove) gave up two runs and four hits with two strikeouts and a walk during her 1.0 inning of middle relief.
 
Larson finished 2-for-3 with three RBI for the Scarlet Raptors. Scott improved to 16-12, surrendering four runs (two earned) and eight hits during the complete-game victory while posting a strikeout and three walks.
 
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