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

LITTLE FALLS, N.J. – William Paterson (24-8, 14-4 NJAC) earned the right to host an opening-round game of the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) Softball Tournament with a 1-2, 8-5 split at No. 23 Montclair State (26-8, 14-4 NJAC) April 30.

The Pioneers finished in a three-way tie for first place in the league standings with Montclair State and Rowan (14-4). The Profs will be the tourney's top seed, thanks to a 3-1 combined record against the Red Hawks and Pioneers. MSU will be the second seed after posting a 2-2 record against WP and Rowan, and the Pioneers are the third seed with a 1-3 record against the other two teams. William Paterson will host fourth-seeded Ramapo, Rowan will host sixth-seeded Kean, and Montclair State will host fifth-seeded The College of New Jersey in the first round Tuesday, May 3, at 4:00 p.m. Rowan will host the remainder of the double-elimination tournament Friday-Sunday, May 6-8.

GAME ONE
A single run in the bottom of the sixth handed the host Red Hawks a 2-1 opening victory.

Freshman Alisha Cumberton led off the bottom of the third with a single for MSU, was sacrificed to second and advanced to third on a groundout. Katie Muglia's base hit up the middle then scored Cumberton for the first run of the game.

The Pioneers evened the score during the top of the sixth. Senior Heather Mendez (Basking Ridge, N.J./Ridge) ignited a two-out rally with her single down the left-field line. Freshman Jessica Warner (Runnemede, N.J./Triton) and junior Raquel Roder (Hoboken, N.J./Hoboken) followed with singles to load the bases for pinch hitter Danielle Capozzi (Wanaque, N.J./Lakeland Regional), who drew a walk to force across Mendez.

Leslie Gonzalez opened the home half of the frame with a triple down the right-field line, and Muglia promptly plated her with a single to center.

Warner was 2-for-3 with a double, and senior Lindsey Nadolny (Belford, N.J./Middletown North) went 2-for-4 with a double. Junior Michele Graham (Hawthorne, N.J./Hawthorne) allowed two runs on six hits in 6.0 innings (11-4).

Muglia drove in both Red Hawk runs, part of a 2-for-3 effort at the plate. Freshman Alex Hill improved to 16-3, giving up one run and eight hits, striking out 12 and walking two in 7.0 innings.

GAME TWO
Five runs in the bottom of the fourth inning carried William Paterson to an 8-5 victory.

Nadolny laced a one-out double to right center during the bottom of the first, and a Vitale fielder's choice put runners on the corners. She was lifted for pinch runner Lauren Bogart (West Milford, N.J./West Milford), and Bogart and Nadolny pulled off the double steal, scoring the first run of the game. An error on a ball hit by Warner was enough for Bogart to scamper home and make it a 2-0 WP lead.

Montclair State put up five runs on four hits in the third, using a Dana Amato bases-loaded single to score the first, a two-run Heather Bergman base hit, a run-scoring hit from Kelli O'Brien and a Hill sac fly.

Nadolny's triple and Vitale's RBI-single made it a 5-3 score after three innings. The Pioneers then seized control with a five-run outburst in the fourth. Mendez opened the frame with a single, and Graham's bunt was a fielder's choice that did not result in an out. Roder singled and advanced to second on an error, scoring Mendez on the play, before two strikeouts were recorded by Hill, who was inserted inside the circle. Freshman shortstop Katelyn Miele (Flanders, N.J./Pope John XXIII) kept the inning going with a RBI-single to tie the score at 5-5, and a hit by pitch for Nadolny loaded the bases for Vitale. An error by the center fielder allowed all three base runners to score, handing William Paterson an 8-5 advantage.

Nadolny was 2-for-3 with a double, triple and three runs scored. Miele finished 2-for-4, scored once and drove in a run. Sophomore Kelsey Hand (Mountainville, N.Y./Cornwall Central) started and gave up five runs on five hits over 2.1 innings. Graham earned the victory in relief (12-4), scattering two hits over 4.2 scoreless innings.

Seven different Red Hawks accounted for Montclair State's seven hits. Starter Jamie Miller (10-5) allowed six runs (four earned) and five hits in 3.0 innings. Hill surrendered two unearned runs and three hits in 6.0 innings.

William Paterson will finish the regular season Sunday, May 1, with a home doubleheader against Baruch at 1:00 p.m.