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

POMONA, N.J. – William Paterson (21-7, 11-3 NJAC) secured a berth in the upcoming New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) Softball Tournament with 5-3 and 6-2 wins at Richard Stockton (13-17, 3-11 NJAC) April 22.

GAME ONE
The Pioneers scored three times during the top of the seventh inning to rally for a 5-3 first-game victory.

William Paterson took the early lead, plating single runs in the first and sixth innings. Senior second baseman Lindsey Nadolny (Belford, N.J./Middletown North) singled, stole second and scored on a Kelsey Hand (Mountainville, N.Y./Cornwall Central) base hit. A two-out bases-loaded walk issued to senior catcher Nicole Jimmerson (North Bergen, N.J./High Tech) made it a 2-0 score in the middle of the sixth.

The Ospreys took their first lead of the game with three runs during the home half of the sixth. A hit by pitch, single and throwing error gave Richard Stockton runners on second and third with zero outs. A base hit plated one run, and a walk and a later error allowed two more Ospreys to touch the plate and hand Stockton a 3-2 edge.

Freshman shortstop Katelyn Miele (Flanders, N.J./Pope John XXIII) led off the top of the seventh with a single, and Nadolny's bunt was good enough for a base hit. Senior first baseman Jenna Vitale (Kenilworth, N.J./David Brearley) followed with a single that resulted in a 9-2-5 putout of Miele at third base, Hand drove in Nadolny with her RBI-single, and a Heather Mendez (Basking Ridge, N.J./Ridge) base hit and Stockton error plated Hand and pinch runner Danielle Capozzi (Wanaque, N.J./Lakeland Regional) for a 5-3 margin.

Hand was 2-for-3 with two RBI and a run scored, Nadolny went 2-for-4 and scored twice, and Miele was 2-for-4 for WP. Hand pitched the complete game (7-2), giving up three runs (one earned) and six hits.

Nicole Chabak finished 2-for-3 for the Ospreys. Reliever Briana DiDolce took the loss (1-3) after giving up three runs (two earned) and four hits in 0.1 inning.

GAME TWO
William Paterson once again fought back from a deficit, this time 2-1 in the middle of the fourth, to complete the sweep with a 6-2 win.

Joey Afflitto led off the top of the first with a base hit, was sacrificed to second and raced home on a Danielle Accardi double for a 1-0 Stockton lead. The Pioneers evened things up with doubles from Mendez and senior center fielder Jillian Mulderig (Sewell, N.J./Washington Twp.) during the bottom of the second.

The Ospreys used three base hits and a walk to cross the plate once in the third, but the Pioneers seized control with a two-run fourth inning. Mendez and Mulderig once again each hit doubles to generate a run, and Alexa Veniero's (Belleville, N.J./Belleville) pinch-hit single plated Mulderig to hand WP a 3-2 lead.

William Paterson added three more runs during the home half of the fifth. Nadolny hit a leadoff single, was sacrificed to third by Vitale and hit the plate on a Hand groundout. Mendez hit a solo home run, her second in as many days, and freshman Laura Henriquez (Westampton, N.J./Rancocas Valley Regional) and Jimmerson followed with base hits. An error off the bat of Mulderig was enough to allow Henriquez to score.

Mendez went 3-for-3 with a RBI and three runs scored. Nadolny, Vitale and Mulderig each contributed a pair of hits. Junior Michele Graham (Hawthorne, N.J./Hawthorne) improved to 10-3, striking out four and walking one while allowing two runs on nine hits.

Accardi was 2-for-4 with a double and two RBI for Stockton. Brittany Giacomelli dropped to 5-6 after giving up five runs and 10 hits in 4.2 innings inside the circle.

The Pioneers will celebrate Senior Day when they host Kean Tuesday, April 26, at 3:00 p.m.