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

MAHWAH, N.J. – The William Paterson softball team (13-9, 3-3 NJAC) handed No. 9 Ramapo (19-3, 5-1 NJAC) its first conference loss of the year with a 5-4, eight-inning decision in the second game of a doubleheader April 7 in Mahwah. The Roadrunners won the opener, 5-0.

The Pioneers pushed a run across in the bottom of the eighth of the night cap, with one out and the bases loaded for pinch hitter Kelly Lauter (Succasunna, N.J./Roxbury), who drew a walk from Ramapo reliever rookie Lyndsay Buehler to plate pinch runner Jillian Mulderig (Sewell, N.J./Washington Twp.) for the 5-4 victory.

Lauren Cascino got the Roadrunners on the board in the top of the first with her second two-run home run of the day, scoring Rachel Wong, who ripped a single to center field earlier in the inning. The Pioneers scored two of their own in the first inning when Ana Abourashed (Middlesex, N.J./Middlesex) singled home Meghan Reilly (Middlesex, N.J./Middlesex), who had singled to get on earlier in the inning. Pinch runner Kelly Apgar (Andover, N.J./Lenape Valley) then crossed the plate on Lindsey Nadolny's (Belford, N.J./Middletown North) hard single to center field for a 2-2 score.

Ramapo took the lead in the second as Katie Donnelly walked and scored on Wong's double to left field for a 3-2 edge. The Pioneers surged ahead 4-3 lead in the bottom of the fourth on a two-run home run from Ashlie Gaynor (Berlin, N.J./Eastern).

Ramapo tied the game back up in the seventh when bases were loaded for rookie Brittney McKeon, and her hard shot to short stop was misplayed, allowing Wong to score from third base and tie the score at 4-4. Ramapo held the Pioneers in the bottom of the seventh to force extra innings.

Abourashed was 2-for-4, and Gaynor was 1-for-3 with two RBI. Freshman Jenna Vitale (Kenilworth, N.J./David Brearley) picked up the victory (3-3), throwing 8.0 innings of relief and striking out six while allowing six hits and three runs (two earned).

Katie Norton recorded a complete-game one-hitter for Ramapo in the opener, and the Roadrunners scored a run in the first, three in the third and another single run in the fifth. Senior Diana Schraer (Paramus, N.J./Paramus) suffered the loss (7-3), giving up eight hits and five runs (four earned) in 5.0 innings.

The Pioneers will host New Jersey City in a NJAC doubleheader Tuesday, April 8, at 3:00 p.m.