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

WAYNE, N.J. – A passed ball in the bottom of the eighth gave the William Paterson softball team (11-5) a doubleheader sweep of Wilkes (6-6), 2-0 and 11-10, March 29 at the Pioneer Softball Field.

Due to the tiebreaker rule, sophomore Ana Abourashed (Middlesex, N.J./Middlesex) was placed on second to start the home half of the eighth inning. Following a groundout that moved Abourashed to third, Wilkes intentionally walked Alicia Albert (Voorhees, N.J./Eastern Regional) and Kaitlyn Lang (Newtown, Pa./Council Rock-North) to get to Meghan Reilly (Middlesex, N.J./Middlesex), who was 1-for-2 in the contest. But, instead of inducing Reilly into a groundout, the Wilkes catcher allowed a pitch to get past her, and Abourashed was able to score the winning run.

William Paterson had burst out to a 6-1 lead after four innings, and a 10-4 advantage after five, but the Lady Colonels scored four runs in the sixth and two more in the seventh to force the extra frame.

Freshman Jessica Reibis (Jackson, N.J./Jackson) was 3-for-4 in the second game with a run scored and one RBI, while Albert was 2-for-4.

Freshman Danielle Ballard (Lynbrook, N.Y./Lynbrook) started for the Pioneers inside the circle, allowing four runs (one earned) and eight hits in 4.l innings. Classmate Ashley McDonald (Ewing, N.J./Notre Dame) threw 1.0 inning of relief, and junior Diana Schraer (Paramus, N.J./Paramus) earned the victory (7-1) with one hit, two runs (one earned) and one strikeout over the final 2.2 innings.

In the opening game of the twin bill, the Pioneers scored single runs in the third and fourth innings. Freshman Christine Zippler (Blackwood, N.J./Washington Twp.) tripled just inside the right-field line and scored two batters later on a wild pitch to give the Pioneers a 1-0 lead. The next inning, senior Brandi Kavaliauskas (Sicklerville, N.J./Highland Regional) led off by drawing a walk, stole second and third, and scored on a fielding error by the Lady Colonels' left fielder.

Schraer threw seven shutout innings for the victory (6-1), scattering six hits and striking out five while walking two Lady Colonels. The Pioneers had just three hits in scoring the two runs – one each from Kavaliauskas, Schraer and Zippler. Laurie Agresti suffered the loss for Wilkes (4-2) despite striking out eight in 6.0 innings and allowing just one earned run.

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