All five of the runs in the first game were scored during the second inning. Back-to-back singles by Kean's Katie Hicks and Maryelise Gierke, followed by a throwing error by Pioneer pitcher Diana Schraer (Paramus, N.J./Paramus), gave the Cougars their first run of the contest. A groundout and two consecutive walks forced in Gierke, making it a 2-0 score.

Freshman Casey Sierra (Ringwood, N.J./Lakeland Regional) led off the home half of the second with a single up the middle, and was lifted for pinch runner Brittany Hulmes (Montville, N.J./Montville). Sophomore Ana Abourashed (Middlesex, N.J./Middlesex) then singled to shortstop, followed by a fielder's choice off the bat of Christina Zippler (Blackwood, N.J./Washington Twp.) that the Cougars initially looked to make a play on at second, but with no one covering the bag, the throw to first was too late, leaving the bases loaded. April Sardinas-Wyssling's (Plainsboro, N.J./West Windsor-Plainsboro South) groundout plated Hulmes,and Chelsea Winkelspecht's (Sicklerville, N.J./Washington Twp.) grounder resulted in an attempted play at the plate, but pinch runner Kathleen Wehmann (Harrington Park, N.J./Old Tappan) was able to slide under the tag and tie the score. Senior Brandi Kavaliauskas (Sicklerville, N.J./Highland Regional) drove in the final run with a single to right field that scored Zippler, giving the Pioneers the 3-2 lead.

The two teams mustered just one combined hit after the second inning, an Alicia Albert (Voorhees, N.J./Eastern Regional) single in the fifth. Schraer earned the victory (15-3), allowing two hits, two runs (none earned), two walks and a pair of strikeouts. Gierke threw the complete game for the Cougars, giving up four hits and three earned runs, walking three and striking out two. The six singles came from six different players.

Kean broke the scoreless tie in the nightcap with a single run in the bottom of the third. Katy McManus drew a leadoff walk, and following a foulout and sacrifice, scored on a Sara Steinman single.

The Pioneers pushed ahead with two runs during the next half-inning. Albert led off with a double to left-center, followed by an attempted sacrifice that Meghan Reilly (Middlesex, N.J./Middlesex) appeared to beat out. Kean's catcher tried to throw Reilly out, but the ball was wide and rolled into right field, allowing Albert to scamper home from third and tie the game. A sacrifice then moved Reilly to second, and two batters later a single from Zippler into right field drove Reilly in, giving William Paterson a 2-1 edge.

That lead was short-lived, as the Cougars answered with the tying run in the bottom of the fourth when Vicki Lanza drove in Hicks with a single up the middle. But, WPU was able to end the cat-and-mouse game with four runs in the fifth. With two outs and the bases loaded, a wild pitch plated Reibis, and Abourashed's double just inside the bag at third cleared the other two runners to make it a 5-2 score. Zippler's single to right center then drove home Abourashed, giving the Pioneers a commanding 6-2 advantage.

The edge became five runs when Reilly's single drove in Kavaliauskas in the top of the sixth. Two straight Cougars hits to start the bottom half of the inning chased Schraer, who was replaced by freshman Amy Sievert (Matawan, N.J./ Old Bridge) inside the circle. With runners on second and third and no one out, she gave up a RBI single to Lanza, but then registered back-to-back strikeouts and a popout to end the inning and get out of the jam with a 7-3 Pioneer lead.

A solo shot by Kara Schultz in the bottom of the seventh finished the scoring for the Cougars.

Schraer picked up the victory (16-3), giving up seven hits and three earned runs in 5.0 innings, walking three and striking out three Cougars. Sievert threw the final 2.0 innings, registering two strikeouts while allowing two hits and an earned run. Kristen Hennings suffered the loss (4-5), surrendering nine hits and seven runs (six earned). Gierke hurled the final 1.1 innings for Kean.

Zippler led the Pioneers at the plate in the second game, going 3-for-4 with a double and two RBI. Reilly had a pair of hits, two RBI and a run scored. Lanza was 2-for-3 with two RBI, while Hicks and Allison Lizzi each had a pair of hits for the Cougars.

The doubleheader was important for both teams, as the Pioneers and Cougars began the day in a three-way tie for fourth place in the NJAC standings. The top six teams will qualify for the NJAC Tournament May 1, 4-6.

William Paterson will return to action Tuesday, April 24, with a doubleheader at NJAC-leading Montclair State at 3:00 p.m.