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

WAYNE, N.J. – William Paterson (9-3) opened a doubleheader against Drew (7-10) with a 4-0 victory, then used a two-run rally in the bottom of the seventh to win the night cap, 7-6, in the Pioneers' softball home opener March 30.

GAME ONE
William Paterson crossed the plate during each of its final three at-bats for a 4-0 opening victory.

Freshman Jessica Warner (Runnemede, N.J./Triton) led off the bottom of the fourth with a single to right field and was lifted for pinch runner Jessica Maciolek (Hamilton, N.J./Steinert). After a groundout, Nicole Walls (Bordentown, N.J./Bordentown Regional) drew a walk and senior Nicole Jimmerson (North Bergen, N.J./High Tech) singled through the right side to send Maciolek home, and an error later allowed Walls to touch the plate, making it a 2-0 contest.

A double to left field by senior Heather Mendez (Basking Ridge, N.J./Ridge) scored freshman Laura Henriquez (Westampton, N.J./Rancocas Valley Regional) for a 3-0 edge after five, and Henriquez made it 4-0 in the bottom of the sixth with her RBI-single to drive in senior Jillian Mulderig (Sewell, N.J./Washington Twp.) from third base.

Senior Lindsey Nadolny (Belford, N.J./Middletown North) was 2-for-2, and Henriquez was 2-for-4 with a run and RBI. Junior Michele Graham (Hawthorne, N.J./Hawthorne) improved to 5-2, pitching the complete game and scattering 10 hits while striking out three Rangers.

Freshman Brooke Nwosu was 3-for-3 to lead Drew at the plate. Senior Adriana Durso took the loss (6-3), allowing eight hits and four runs (three earned) over 6.0 innings.

GAME TWO
Two runs during their last at-bat, the second coming on an error, allowed the Pioneers to finish the day with a 7-6 win.

Freshman Brooke Gagliano's homer over the left-field fence plated Durso and Nicole Spiotta to hand Drew a 3-0 lead in the top of the third inning. William Paterson got two of those runs back during the home half of the frame. Freshman Danielle Capozzi (Wanaque, N.J./Lakeland Regional) drew a leadoff walk, Katelyn Miele (Flanders, N.J./Pope John XXIII) singled to the pitcher, and Maciolek doubled to plate Capozzi. Jimmerson's base hit to third was enough to score Miele and make it a 3-2 game.

The Pioneers evened the score during the third inning. Mendez led off with a base hit, was sacrificed to second and scored via a Miele single up the middle.

Drew answered with a three-run fourth. After Jackie Mannino doubled and Jennifer Mateo singled, Gagliano scored both with a two-bagger to left field. Sophomore Jeramie Barletta later hit a double to left to drive in Gagliano and take a 6-3 advantage.

WP made it a 6-5 game during the bottom half of the same inning. With two outs, Henriquez bunted for a base hit, Jenna Vitale (Kenilworth, N.J./David Brearley) singled back up the middle, and Mendez tripled to clear the bases.

Mendez started the seventh with a double, and Mulderig was inserted as a runner. Warner, who had been replaced in the lineup when the Pioneers made a pitching change in the fourth inning, re-entered and promptly delivered a double to the base of the wall in center, scoring Mulderig and evening the score. Capozzi then hit a grounder off the pitcher's leg and beat out the throw to first, but Miele's grounder resulted in the lead runner being put out at third for the first out of the inning. Maciolek's grounder was then fielded by the Drew third baseman, who turned and threw to the sprinting shortstop who was coming over for the force at third base, but the throw got past her and to the fence, far enough away to allow Capozzi to round third and score the deciding run.

Mendez was 4-for-4 with a double, triple, two RBI and a run scored. Miele finished 2-for-4, scored once and drove in a run. Vitale allowed five runs on six hits in 3.1 innings as the starter inside the circle. Sophomore Kelsey Hand (Mountainville, N.Y./Cornwall Central) picked up the win in relief (1-1), tossing 3.2 innings and giving up four hits and one run.

Gagliano went 2-for-4 with a home run and five RBI for Drew. Nwosu was 2-for-3 at the plate but suffered the loss (0-3), surrendering 15 hits and seven runs (six earned) in 6.1 innings.

William Paterson will host Baruch Friday. April 1, in a doubleheader set to begin at 3:00 p.m.