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

WAYNE, N.J. – Senior center fielder Christina Zippler (Blackwood, N.J./Washington Twp.) and senior shortstop Lacey Santone (South Plainfield, N.J./South Plainfield) each slugged two home runs to lead the William Paterson softball team (9-4-1) to a pair of shutout victories against Baruch (4-10), 6-0 and 7-0, in the Pioneers' home opener March 26.

GAME ONE
William Paterson scored three runs during both the third and fourth innings, and sophomore Michele Graham (Hawthorne, N.J./Hawthorne) tossed a three-hitter, in the opening 6-0 win.

The Pioneers got things started with a long triple by Zippler that scored sophomore Raquel Roder (Hoboken, N.J./Hoboken), who had reached on a walk. Junior Jenna Vitale's (Kenilworth, N.J./David Brearley) double to left-center plated Zippler, giving the Pioneers a two-run advantage, and Santone singled in Vitale for a 3-0 edge.

An error by Baruch's third baseman allowed junior Jillian Mulderig (Sewell, N.J./Washington Twp.) to reach base and eventually score on a Roder single. A Zippler home run to straight-away center later knocked in Roder and handed the Pioneers a 6-0 lead.

Zippler was 2-for-3 with three RBI and two runs scored, while Roder finished 2-for-3, scored twice and drove in a run. Graham struck out six without issuing the walk in earning the complete-game victory (5-4).

Freshman Nicole Flint went 2-for-3 to lead the Bearcats. Junior Lynn Schiano (0-4) tossed 4.0 innings, surrendering six earned runs and striking out four.

GAME TWO
Zippler and Santone each went 3-for-4 and combined to drive in all seven runs in the night cap. The Pioneers got off to an early start in the bottom of the first inning, leading off with a Heather Mendez (Basking Ridge, N.J./Ridge) single. The Pioneer bats didn't stop as Zippler blasted her second home run of the day, this one to left-center, giving William Paterson an early 2-0 lead.

Third-inning singles by Zippler and Lindsey Nadolny (Belford N.J./Middletown North) were capped off by a Santone three-run home run inside the left foul pole, handing the Pioneers a 5-0 edge.

The Bearcats threatened in the top of the sixth, putting two runners on base, but a Vitale strikeout of senior Dania Ghrawi ended the inning. The Pioneers quickly responded in the bottom of the sixth with a two-run home run by Santone, driving in Vitale to make it a 7-0 score.

Vitale pitched the complete game (3-0), surrendering six hits and registering five strikeouts. Junior Nicole Jimmerson (North Bergen, N.J./High Tech) went 2-for-3 at the plate.

Flint was 2-for-3 at the dish for Baruch and pitched all 6.0 innings, allowing seven runs on 12 hits while striking out eight Pioneers (1-3).

William Paterson will play again Sunday, March 28, at Wilkes at 1:00 p.m.