Box Score 

MAHWAH, N.J. – Second-seeded William Paterson (35-8) continued to battle but could not overcome top-seeded Messiah (39-4) during the final of the NCAA Softball Tournament Mahwah Regional May 10, falling 6-1 to the Falcons. Earning spots on the All-Tournament Team for the Pioneers were senior third baseman Meghan Reilly (Middlesex, N.J./Middlesex), junior center fielder Christina Zippler (Blackwood, N.J./Washington Twp.), freshman pitcher Michele Graham (Hawthorne, N.J./Hawthorne), and sophomore at-large selection/designated player Jenna Vitale (Kenilworth, N.J./David Brearley).

Both of the No. 16 Pioneers' NCAA Tournament losses came at the hands of the Falcons. William Paterson started with a 9-2 win against seventh-seeded Muhlenberg in a game that began May 7 and was finished the morning of May 8, defeated Rowan 2-1 May 8, lost to Messiah 4-2 May 9, and defeated Rowan 8-3 May 10 to reach the finals series.

Trailing by just one after two innings, the Pioneers' hopes of advancing to the Division III Softball Championship Finals at nearby Montclair State University were all but ended after Messiah crossed the plate three times during the top of the third inning. The Falcons struck first with a pair of runs in the second, but William Paterson answered with a run of its own during the home half of the frame. Sophomore Nicole Jimmerson (North Bergen, N.J./High Tech) was just inches shy of leading off the inning with a home run, instead drilling a ball off the top of the fence for a double. Junior Lacey Santone (South Plainfield, N.J./South Plainfield) sacrificed Jimmerson to third, and a Heather Mendez (Basking Ridge, N.J./Ridge) infield single was enough to allow the Pioneer catcher to score, cutting the Falcons' lead in half at 2-1.

Jaclyn Merkel started the third inning with a fly ball into the breeze and out to left, a solo home run to push Messiah ahead, 3-1. A walk, sacrifice, fielder's choice and two Pioneer errors allowed the Falcons to add two more runs to their tally and build a 5-1 lead by the middle of the third, and they crossed the plate once during the top of the fifth thanks to a double and two base hits.


Jimmerson, Mendez and Reilly accounted for the Pioneers' three hits. Sophomore Kerrie Mascarelli (Montvale, N.J./Pascack Hills) started inside the circle and surrendered four runs (three earned) on five hits in 2.0 innings (10-1). Graham tossed the final 4.0 innings and struck out three hitters while allowing five hits and two runs (one earned). For the season, Graham walked just six hitters in 135.0 innings pitched, a new school record for fewest bases on balls issued (Sam Kszepka, eight, 2001).

Jessica Rhoads, second in Division III with a 0.54 ERA, improved to 23-1 by allowing the one run and three hits while registering five strikeouts. Merkel and Abby Bergakker each had three hits for Messiah.

During the five games played at Ramapo College, Reilly hit .364 (4-11) and scored seven runs, while Zippler went 5-for-16 (.313) with a double, home run, seven RBI and six runs scored. Vitale hit .313 (5-16) and notched two doubles, a home run and eight RBI, and Graham posted a 2-1 record, 1.93 ERA, three complete games and 14 strikeouts without issuing a walk in 29.0 innings pitched.