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

WAYNE, N.J. – Freshman Jenna Vitale's (Kenilworth, N.J./David Brearley) pinch-hit, three-run homer lifted William Paterson (17-11, 5-5 NJAC) to a 3-2 opening-game victory against visiting Richard Stockton (19-9, 3-7 NJAC) April 13. The Ospreys fought back from a 2-0 deficit in Game Two for a 7-5 win.

Trailing 1-0 entering the bottom of the fifth, the Pioneers started the inning with a Rayna Caruso (Madison, N.J./Madison) walk, and she was lifted for pinch runner Jillian Mulderig (Sewell, N.J./Washington Twp.). Junior Kate Braun (Philadelphia, Pa./Gloucester Catholic) sacrificed Mulderig to second, and she advanced to third after a ground out. Junior Meghan Reilly (Middlesex, N.J./Middlesex) then drew a two-out walk to put runners at the corners, setting the stage for Vitale's pinch-hit heroics, her first career home run and the only scores of the game for William Paterson.

Richard Stockton had a 1-0 edge after a Melissa Baumgartner single scored Melissa Sinclair in the fourth. The Ospreys threatened to re-take the lead in the sixth, pushing a run across after a bases-loaded single, but reliever Danielle Ballard (Lynbrook, N.Y./Lynbrook) entered the game and induced an inning-ending double play, preserving the Pioneer lead at 3-2.

Five different Pioneers accounted for WP's five hits, while Stockton's five singles also came off the bats of five different hitters. Senior Diana Schraer (Paramus, N.J./Paramus) struck out three and walked two in 5.1 innings, allowing five hits and two runs to pick up the victory (10-3). Ballard earned her second save of the year, striking out two and walking one in 1.2 innings of relief. Kaitlyn Corica suffered the loss (8-6), giving up five hits and three runs in 6.0 innings.

William Paterson seized the early lead during the second game, crossing the plate twice during the top of the second. A Caruso double and Braun single were followed by an error, allowing Caruso to score, and Ashlie Gaynor's (Berlin, N.J./Eastern) base hit to second base drove in Braun, giving the Pioneers the 2-0 advantage.

Richard Stockton answered with a seven-run explosion in the fourth. The Ospreys drew three walks to load the bases with one out, and Jessica Sneddon quickly cut the lead in half with a RBI-single. Jaime Heller then followed with a grounder to first, but the throw to the plate was high, making it a 2-2 game. Laura Dubell's single gave the Ospreys their first lead at 3-2, and four more straight hits drove in four more runners, extending Stockton's edge to 7-2.

The Pioneers rallied during their final at-bat, starting the top of the seventh with three consecutive doubles and a single, making it a 7-4 game with no outs and runners on first and third. A strikeout and a single brought the go-ahead run to the plate with the bases loaded and one out, and pinch hitter Ana Abourashed (Middlesex, N.J./Middlesex) was able to drive in Kelly Lauter (Succasunna, N.J./Roxbury) from third with a sacrifice fly to center field. Now a 7-5 score with two outs and runners on first and second, WP's threat was ended when the next batter hit a come-backer to the pitcher.

Samantha Horner was 2-for-4 with a RBI and run scored, while Natalie Berrios had a double and two RBI for the Ospreys. Caruso was 2-for-4 with a double and a run scored to pace the Pioneers.

Danielle Accardi improved to 9-3 for Richard Stockton (7.0 innings, nine hits, five runs, four earned). Vitale started inside the circle for WP (3.1 innings, five hits, three runs, one earned), while Ballard threw 0.2 inning and suffered the loss (1-2). She was replaced by Vitale to finish the fourth inning, and Kerrie Mascarelli (Montvale, N.J./Pascack Hills) pitched the final 2.0 innings for the Pioneers.

William Paterson will play a NJAC doubleheader at Kean Tuesday, April 15, at 3:00 p.m.