Box Score (Game #1)
Box Score (Game #2)

WAYNE, N.J. – The William Paterson softball team (9-5) battled back to earn a split with Manhattanville (7-5), 2-7 and 2-1, in the Pioneers' home opener March 28 at the Pioneer Softball Field.

The Pioneers scored both of their runs in the fifth inning of the second game. Senior Alicia Albert (Voorhees, N.J./Eastern Regional) singled, followed by singles from Christine Zippler (Blackwood, N.J./Washington Twp.) and Jessica Reibis (Jackson, N.J./Jackson) that helped plate Albert and give the Pioneers a 1-0 lead. Freshman Casey Sierra (Ringwood, N.J./Lakeland Regional) was then asked to pinch hit, and her grounder to the left side of the infield scored Zippler for what would be the game-winning run.

The Valiants did manage to score one run in the top of the sixth after a leadoff double by Nicole Oliva, a passed ball and a single off the bat of Trina Ramsdell.

Zippler was 2-for-2 with a double to lead the Pioneers. Junior Diana Schraer (Paramus, N.J./Paramus) threw the complete game (5-1), striking out five while allowing five hits and one unearned run.

In the first game, five runs in a two-inning span lifted the Valiants to a 7-2 victory. Manhattanville struck first with a run in the second off a Maggie Thomas single, sacrifice bunt, wild pitch and Pioneer error. William Paterson briefly took a 2-1 lead with a pair of scores in the third. Freshman Taylor Griffith (Mt. Laurel, N.J./Lenape) reached first after being hit by a pitch. She was lifted for pinch runner Kat Wehmann (Harrington Park, N.J./Old Tappan), who advanced to second on a fielder's choice. Senior Brandi Kavaliauskas (Sicklerville, N.J./Highland Regional) sent her home with a single up the middle. Kavaliauskas later scored after moving to third on a wild pitch that the catcher threw into left field, giving the Pioneers a 2-1 edge.

Manhattanville evened the score in the fourth after a RBI single by Caitlyn Conklin, and tacked on three more in the fifth and two in the sixth.

Freshman Ashley McDonald (Ewing, N.J./Notre Dame) started for the Pioneers, allowing five hits and five runs (three earned) in 4.2 innings. She struck out three Valiants while walking two. Schraer threw the final 2.1 innings, giving up two unearned runs and striking out two batters.

The Pioneers received five votes (30th) in this week's National Fastpitch Coaches Association Top 25 Poll.