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

WAYNE, N.J. – William Paterson (23-7, 13-3 NJAC) moved into a first-place tie in the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) softball standings with a 5-3 and 6-1 Senior Day sweep of visiting Kean (9-23, 7-9 NJAC) April 26.

The Pioneers (13-3, 26 points) are tied with Montclair State (13-3, 26) for the top spot in the league, one game ahead of both Ramapo (12-4, 24) and Rowan (12-4, 24). The College of New Jersey (8-8, 16), Rutgers-Camden (8-8, 16) and Kean (7-9, 14) are three teams still fighting to secure the two remaining spots in the six-team NJAC Tournament field. William Paterson will finish conference regular-season play Saturday, April 30, with a twin bill at Montclair State at 1:00 p.m.

GAME ONE
William Paterson owned a 3-0 lead, saw the Cougars forge a 3-3 deadlock, then crossed the plate with single runs during the fifth and sixth innings for a 5-3 opening victory.

The Pioneers jumped out to a quick 1-0 lead after a Lindsey Nadolny (Belford, N.J./Middletown North) home run cleared the center-field fence during the bottom of the first. Senior catcher Nicole Jimmerson (North Bergen, N.J./High Tech) grounded the ball through the middle infield to start the William Paterson offense in the bottom of the second. A bunt single by senior center fielder Jillian Mulderig (Sewell, N.J./Washington Twp.) put runners on first and second, and a two-out double by freshman shortstop Katelyn Miele (Flanders, N.J./Pope John XXIII) plated both runners, giving the Pioneers a 3-0 edge.

The Kean Cougars used a three-run fifth inning to even the score. Back-to-back singles by Courtney Melchionna and Katie Yard started the offensive rally for the Cougars. Senior Lindsay Kennedy reached on a bunt, loading the bases with just one out. A single down the left-field line by Alicia Banz plated Sam Gniazdowski, who pinch ran for Melchionna. Freshman Megan Cegielski was hit by a pitch, scoring another run for Kean. Bases still loaded, sophomore Katie Schuh grounded a ball that hit off the glove of Pioneer pitcher Michele Graham (Hawthorne, N.J./Hawthorne), but was still within reach of second baseman Nadolny, scoring a run but also recording the second out of the inning. A hard liner back to Jenna Vitale (Kenilworth, N.J./David Brearley) at first ended the threat and kept it a 3-3 score.

The Pioneers answered back in the bottom half of the frame, leading off with a bunt single by Nadolny, who then proceeded to steal second and third. Junior left fielder Raquel Roder (Hoboken, N.J./Hoboken) punched the ball just past the pitcher and beat the throw to first by the second baseman, plating a run for William Paterson and creating a 4-3 lead.

A stand-up double by Mulderig led off the bottom half of the sixth inning, putting the Pioneers in position to add to their lead. Junior third baseman Jessica Maciolek (Hamilton, N.J./Steinert) laid a sacrifice bunt down right in front of the catcher, allowing Mulderig to move to third. A sacrifice fly to center by Miele scored Mulderig and extended the Pioneer lead, 5-3.

Nadolny was 2-for-3 with a solo homer and two runs scored, while Mulderig finished 2-for-3 and touched home plate twice. Graham improved to 11-3, tossing a complete game and allowing three runs on five hits while striking out three.

Melchionna was the only Cougar with a multi-hit effort, going 2-for-3. Senior Courtney Smyth took the loss (4-13), allowing five runs on eight hits, striking out five in 6.0 innings.

GAME TWO
The Pioneers built an early 3-1 lead en route to a 6-1 closing victory.

William Paterson manufactured a run during the top of the first as Miele drew a leadoff walk, was sacrificed to second by Nadolny and later scored on a Jessica Warner (Runnemede, N.J./Triton) single up the middle.

Senior right fielder Heather Mendez (Basking Ridge, N.J./Ridge) helped to make it a 2-0 score in the second, starting the frame with a triple to right center and trotting home thanks to a Roder base hit up the middle.

Kean got one of those runs back during the bottom of the second. Freshman Sandra Binkiewicz started off the inning with a stand-up double to right, and she reached third on a fielder's choice when Miele attempted to get the out on the lead runner and threw it past Maciolek. Melchionna then hit a ball that Roder dropped in left field, allowing Binkiewicz to score the Cougars' only run.

Sophomore Kelsey Hand (Mountainville, N.Y./Cornwall Central) helped her own cause with a bases-loaded walk, forcing across Miele for a 3-1 WP advantage in the third. The Pioneers tacked on two more in the sixth, using a Roder leadoff double and a Mulderig bunt single that got away from the player covering the bag at first, allowing Roder to race home. Mulderig then advanced to third via a wild pitch and scored on an Alexa Veniero (Belleville, N.J./Belleville) pinch-hit sacrifice fly.

William Paterson added to its lead in the seventh, as Vitale hit a leadoff single, moved up 60 feet on a groundout and scored after errors by the Kean shortstop and left fielder on a ball off the bat of Hand.

Roder finished 2-for-3 with a double, RBI and run scored, while Vitale went 2-for-4. Hand improved to 8-2, scattering five hits over 7.0 innings, surrendering one unearned run and striking out two Cougars while walking one.

Binkiewicz led the Kean offense with a 2-for-3 effort, scoring the lone run. Freshman Rebecca Rotola allowed six runs (four earned) on nine hits to fall to 0-3.

After the games, William Paterson honored its five seniors -- Jimmerson, Mendez, Mulderig, Nadolny and Vitale.

The Pioneers will play at DeSales Thursday, April 28, at 3:00 p.m.