Box Score 

MAHWAH, N.J. – Junior Christina Zippler's (Blackwood, N.J./Washington Twp.) three-run homer during the top of the second inning proved to be the difference as second-seeded William Paterson (35-8) defeated third-seeded Rowan (35-12), 8-3, May 10 to advance to the NCAA Softball Tournament Mahwah Regional final at Ramapo College. With the win, head coach Hallie Cohen earned her 400th victory as the mentor of the Pioneers (400-204-2, 15th season).

The Pioneers, ranked 16th in this week's National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Top 25 Poll, will play top-seeded Messiah in the finals series at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday. If Messiah wins the 2:00 p.m. game, the Falcons will win the Mahwah Regional and advance to the NCAA Division III Softball Championship Finals May 15-19 at the Montclair State University Softball in Montclair, N.J. If William Paterson wins the 2:00 p.m. game, the two teams will meet again at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, May 11, to decide the championship.

In the fifth meeting between the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) rivals in 16 days, the visiting Pioneers scored first with a pair of runs in the top of the first. NJAC Player of the Year Meghan Reilly (Middlesex, N.J./Middlesex) led off the game with a single to center field, followed by sacrifice bunts that resulted in infield singles for both Zippler and sophomore Lindsey Nadolny (Belford, N.J./Middletown North), to load the bases. Sophomore Jenna Vitale (Kenilworth, N.J./David Brearley) then doubled to the left-center gap to plate Reilly and Zippler, but Nadolny was thrown out at the plate, as William Paterson carried a two-run lead into the bottom of the first.

However, that advantage was short lived, as Nicki Veneziano and Jenna DiDonato started the home half of the first with back-to-back solo home runs to left field, knotting the score at 2-2.

A groundout was followed by an Ana Abourashed (Middlesex, N.J./Middlesex) singled up the middle, and she was lifted for pinch runner Rebecca McClure (New Milford, N.J./New Milford) to begin the second inning. With two strikes, sophomore Jillian Mulderig (Sewell, N.J./Washington Twp.) put down a sacrifice bunt to advance McClure to second base, followed by a Reilly walk. Zippler then launched an Amanda Singer offering into the strong breeze out to left, her fourth homer of the year to stake WP to a 5-2 lead.

William Paterson tacked on a run during the third inning, thanks to a two-out Heather Mendez (Basking Ridge, N.J./Ridge) double down the left-field line, a wild pitch and an error by the Profs' second baseman.

Rowan got that run back with a sacrifice fly during the home half of the frame, but the Pioneers pushed a single runner across the plate in the fourth with three straight singles by Mulderig, Reilly and Zippler, followed by a RBI-base hit by Vitale, for a 7-3 score.

Freshman starter Michele Graham (Hawthorne, N.J./Hawthorne) was lifted for reliever Kerrie Mascarelli (Montvale, N.J./Pascack Hills) to start the bottom of the fourth, and Mascarelli scattered five hits over 4.0 scoreless innings of relief, walking one and striking out four Profs to get the win (10-0).

William Paterson put the finishing touches on its victory with one sixth-inning run when sophomore Nicole Jimmerson (North Bergen, N.J./High Tech) plated Zippler from third with a single to right field.

Zippler was 3-for-4, including the three-run home run, and scored three times. Mulderig went 3-for-3 and hit a double, Vitale was 2-for-4 with a double and three RBI, and Reilly went 2-for-4 and crossed the plate twice. Graham pitched the first 3.0 innings, allowing three runs on four hits.

With her two runs scored, Reilly became the Pioneers' single-season leader (49), while Vitale's double put her into a tie for first place with 19 this spring.

Singer took the loss for Rowan (14-7), surrendering nine hits and seven runs (six earned) in 3.0 innings. Jackie Sasko pitched the final 4.0 innings for the Profs and gave up one run on five hits. Veneziano was 4-for-4 to lead the Rowan offense.

Earlier this season, William Paterson split a regular-season doubleheader at Rowan on April 25, winning the first game 4-1 and losing the night cap 4-3 in eight innings. WP rallied from a 6-3 deficit to defeat the Profs 7-6 in the NJAC Tournament May 2 in Glassboro, and won a 2-1 decision at the NCAA Regional May 8.