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

WAYNE, N.J. – William Paterson (11-6) secured a 6-5 eight-inning victory to open a softball doubleheader against visiting Wilkes (3-13) April 7, but the Colonels fought back to earn a split with a 6-1 win in the night cap.

GAME ONE
The Pioneers opened up a 5-0 edge after two innings, then held off a Wilkes rally to secure a 6-5 victory in eight innings.

Junior outfielder Raquel Roder (Hoboken, N.J./Hoboken) started the bottom of the first inning with a walk, and senior second baseman Lindsey Nadolny (Belford, N.J./Middletown North) provided a one-out single before Jenna Vitale's (Kenilworth, N.J./David Brearley) groundout moved the runners up a base. Sophomore designated player Kelsey Hand (Mountainville, N.Y./Cornwall Central) then sent a base hit through the left side of the infield, scoring Roder and Nadolny for the early 2-0 lead.

Senior catcher Nicole Jimmerson (North Bergen, N.J./High Tech) singled and classmate Jillian Mulderig (Sewell, N.J./Washington Twp.) hit a double to center field, making it a 3-0 game in the second. Mulderig advanced to third on the Wilkes' throw to the plate in an effort to get Jimmerson, and she was later caught in a rundown during Roder's at-bat, but was able to score on the Colonel shortstop's errant toss to the plate. Freshman shortstop Katelyn Miele (Flanders, N.J./Pope John XXIII) later delivered a base hit up the middle and Nadolny singled to center, where the outfielder misplayed the ball and allowed it to get to the wall, far enough away for Miele to score from first base and make it a 5-0 game.

Wilkes fought back for three runs in the fifth. Sophomore Abbey Agresti hit a one-out double, followed by a Kait Brown bunt single to put runners on the corners. After a groundout, freshman Jordan Borger doubled to left-center field, scoring both runners, and she touched the plate two hitters later when Jackie Follweiler ripped a single through the left side of the infield.

The Colonels tied things up during the top of the seventh inning. Borger hit a one-out single before being replaced by pinch runner Cindy Diemer. Designated player Cori Saltzer hit a ball back to Roder inside the circle, and she turned and threw between the two fielders to second base. Nadolny fielded the throw but could not get the force out at second, and her throw to first was off-line, allowing Diemer to race home. Starting pitcher Michele Graham (Hawthorne, N.J./Hawthorne) re-entered and immediately got a strikeout. A popup off Amanda Holston's bat was dropped by Nadolny, and pinch runner/pitcher Lindsay Behrenshausen came around and scored on the play to tie the game. A grounder up the middle hit Graham in the leg, but she recovered to throw to first for the final out of the inning.

Wilkes could not advance the runner from second base in the top of the eighth, as relief pitcher Hand induced a flyout, bunt popup and groundout. Junior Jessica Maciolek (Hamilton, N.J./Steinert) was placed on second to start the bottom of the eighth for the Pioneers. Catcher Kaitlyn Brock (Paramus, N.J./Paramus) bunted, and the throw to first by the Wilkes catcher sailed into right field, allowing Maciolek to cross the plate with the winning run.

Nadolny was 3-for-4, and Hand was 2-for-3 with a pair of RBI. Graham pitched a total of 4.2 scoreless innings, scattering five hits. Roder allowed five runs (three earned) on seven hits in 2.1 innings, and Hand (3-1) pitched a perfect eighth inning.

Borger was 2-for-4 with a double, two RBI and a run scored for Wilkes. Saltzer and Agresti were both 2-for-4, while Kait Brown finished 2-for-5 and scored once. Behrenshausen (2-8) pitched the complete game, giving up six runs (four earned) on 10 hits.

GAME TWO
Alysha Bixler no-hit the Pioneers until the sixth inning as Wilkes salvaged a split with a 6-1 victory.

The Colonels did most of their damage in the fifth inning, scoring five times. Diemer reached on a leadoff error, and after a strikeout, Katie Brown reached first thanks to another Pioneer miscue. Bixler's grounder resulted in WP getting the lead runner at third base for the second out of the inning, but Borger's single to right field loaded the bases for Saltzer, who drove in two with a base hit into left field. Follweiler then sent a pitch over the fence in left, a three-run homer for the Colonels.

Bixler made it a 6-0 game with her solo shot to open the top of the seventh inning. William Paterson got one back during the home half of the inning when Hand singled and sophomore relief pitcher Jaclyn Masterson (Park Ridge, N.J./Park Ridge) was hit by a pitch. Maciolek's single to center plated Hand, but the rally was short-lived as a Pioneer was thrown out at the plate on the very next play to end the contest.

Hand, Maciolek, Mendez and pinch hitter Alexa Veniero (Belleville, N.J./Belleville) accounted for the Pioneers' four hits. Vitale fell to 3-2, allowing six runs (one earned) in 6.1 innings. Masterson gave up one hit in 0.2 inning.

Follweile was 2-for-4 with the three-run homer. Bixler (1-4) helped her own cause with the solo home run, and she pitched 6.0 innings of shutout ball, surrendering two hits. Junior Heather Compton came in for the seventh inning and gave up one run on two hits.

William Paterson will host Ramapo for a single game Friday, April 8, at 3:30 p.m. to make-up a contest that was rained out on April 6.