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

WAYNE, N.J. – William Paterson (25-12-1, 10-6 NJAC) got an important New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) softball sweep against visiting Rutgers-Newark (11-25, 1-15 NJAC), 10-2 and 8-0 in five innings, April 28. With two games remaining, the Pioneers are tied for third in the league standings, still battling for one of six spots in the upcoming NJAC Tournament.

GAME ONE
William Paterson stormed out of the gates with eight runs during the bottom of the first inning, cruising to a 10-2, five-inning victory.

Two-run singles by senior Christina Zippler (Blackwood, N.J./Washington Twp.), junior Nicole Jimmerson (North Bergen, N.J./High Tech) and sophomore Raquel Roder (Hoboken, N.J./Hoboken) helped the Pioneers build an early 8-0 cushion.

William Paterson added a single score in the third after Jimmerson hit a one-out double, moved to third on a wild pitch and eventually crossed the plate on a Roder grounder. Rutgers-Newark fought back to score twice during the top of the fourth inning. Junior Emily Ibarra led off with a single up the middle, was sacrificed to second and trotted to third after a Monica Liotto base hit. Freshman Monica Bagan blooped a single over the bag at third base to score Ibarra, and Liotto later crossed the plate on a wild pitch, making it a 9-2 contest. Freshman Alexa Veniero (Belleville, N.J./Belleville) finished the scoring when she belted a solo homer over the fence in left-center during the home half of the fourth.

Jimmerson was 2-for-2 with a double, two RBI and two runs scored. Mendez and Roder each went 2-for-3 for the Pioneers. Sophomore Michele Graham (Hawthorne, N.J./Hawthorne) allowed two runs on five hits in the complete-game victory (14-9).

Five different Scarlet Raiders accounted for the five hits for Rutgers-Newark. Freshman Angela Riscinti allowed 10 runs on 10 hits in 4.0 innings (8-12).

GAME TWO
The Pioneers scored in four of their five at-bats to win the night cap, 8-0 in five innings.

With runners on the corners and two outs in the top of the first, junior Jenna Vitale (Kenilworth, N.J./David Brearley) singled up the middle to plate Roder, followed by a Lacey Santone (South Plainfield, N.J./South Plainfield) double to drive in Zippler, to make it a 2-0 score.

Mendez singled in Jimmerson, and junior Lindsey Nadolny (Belford N.J./Middletown North) doubled in Mendez, for a 4-0 score by the middle of the second. Roder then made it 5-0 when she plated Mendez with a fourth-inning base hit. William Paterson finished the scoring with a three-run fifth, using a Santone RBI-double and an error that allowed two Pioneers to cross the plate.

Roder finished 3-for-4, Santone was 2-for-3 with a pair of doubles and two RBI, and Mendez, Nadolny and Vitale each contributed two hits. Freshman Jaclyn Masterson (Park Ridge, N.J./Park Ridge) tossed a five-hit shutout (3-1), striking out three and walking one.

Junior Jessica Zelaya was 2-for-3 to lead Rutgers-Newark. Freshman Samantha Veneziano surrendered eight runs (six earned) on 13 hits (3-13).

The Pioneers will celebrate Senior Day when they host No. 20 Rowan Saturday, May 1, at 1:00 p.m.