Box Score

WAYNE, N.J. – The William Paterson softball team (12-6, 2-2 NJAC) staked itself to a 2-0 first-inning lead and held off Ramapo (15-3, 2-2 NJAC) down the stretch for a 2-1 win April 8, completing a doubleheader that was suspended due to rain on April 6. The Pioneers won the opening game two days earlier, 7-2.

The Roadrunners retired the first two WP hitters of the first inning, but senior second baseman Lindsey Nadolny (Belford, N.J./Middletown North) drew a walk and stole second. Classmate Jenna Vitale (Kenilworth, N.J./David Brearley) then singled to left and moved up to second on the throw home, an attempt that was too late to get Nadolny at the plate as the Pioneers grabbed the 1-0 lead. Senior right fielder Heather Mendez (Basking Ridge, N.J./Ridge) then followed with a base hit to center, driving in Vitale for the second run of the game.

Junior Tiffany Fischer got Ramapo on the scoreboard with a solo home run to dead center field with one out in the third inning. Classmate Danielle Rothenberger nearly tied it up on the next swing, but her fly ball was snared by Pioneer left fielder Raquel Roder (Hoboken, N.J./Hoboken) at the fence.

The Roadrunners threatened in the fifth with the bases loaded with one out, but Rothenberger fouled out to shortstop Katelyn Miele (Flanders, N.J./Pope John XXIII) and Janet Brown grounded out to Nadolny.

Ramapo again loaded the bases in the sixth, this time with two outs, but a popup ended the inning. William Paterson had a chance to add to its lead with the bases loaded and two outs in the top of the seventh, but a flyout to center kept the Pioneers from crossing the plate.

Fischer started the bottom of the seventh with a single through the left side, but Rothenberger popped up her bunt attempt. WP pitcher Kelsey Hand (Mountainville, N.Y./Cornwall Central) was able to make the catch and fired to Nadolny at first base for the double play. Two singles kept the Roadrunners' hopes alive, but Hand was able to get out of the jam with a lineout that third baseman Jessica Maciolek (Hamilton, N.J./Steinert) was able to pull down for the game's final out.

Nadolny was 2-for-2 with a double and run scored. Vitale went 1-for-4, scored once and drove in a run. Hand improved to 4-1 with the complete-game victory, scattering 12 hits, walking one Roadrunner and striking out one.

Fischer was 2-for-3 with the solo homer, and Kelsey Higgins was 3-for-3 at the plate. Senior Lyndsay Buehler suffered her first loss (7-1), surrendering two runs on eight hits, two walks and five strikeouts.

The Pioneers will host Rutgers-Camden Saturday, April 9, for a doubleheader to begin at 1:00 p.m.