Box Score (Game #1)
Box Score (Game #2)
GLASSBORO, N.J.- Third-seeded William Paterson (28-10) fell one win shy of reaching the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) Softball Tournament final series, defeating second-seeded Montclair State (27-10), 2-1, before losing to fifth-seeded The College of New Jersey (27-13), 5-1, May 7 at Rowan University.
GAME ONE
Two runs in the bottom of the fourth inning kept the Pioneers alive with a 2-1 elimination-game victory against Montclair State.
The Red Hawks crossed the plate during their first at-bat, the second game in a row that William Paterson allowed a first-inning run. Shannon Mozek drew a full-count walk, just the sixth free pass issued this season by junior Michele Graham (Hawthorne, N.J./Hawthorne), but was out at second on a Dana Amato fielder's choice for the second out of the inning. Kelli O'Brien singled to right-center field to give MSU runners on the corners, and Heather Bergman doubled to left center. Amato scored easily on the play, but a great relay by freshman shortstop Katelyn Miele (Flanders, N.J./Pope John XXIII) to senior catcher Nicole Jimmerson (North Bergen, N.J./High Tech) allowed the Pioneers to limit the damage, recording the third out at home plate on a tag of O'Brien.
William Paterson had just one hit during the first three frames, but the Pioneers responded during the home half of the fourth. The NJAC Co-Player of the Year, senior second baseman Lindsey Nadolny (Belford, N.J./Middletown North) led off with her second hit of the afternoon, a hard grounder down the first-base line. Senior first baseman Jenna Vitale (Kenilworth, N.J./David Brearley) sacrificed her to second, and senior outfielder Heather Mendez (Basking Ridge, N.J./Ridge) singled to center and advanced to second on the throw home that was too late to get Nadolny as she tied the score. Freshman DP Jessica Warner (Runnemede, N.J./Triton) then doubled in Mendez with a hit that the MSU left fielder nearly caught on the warning track, making it a 2-1 WP advantage.
Montclair State had two on with two out in the sixth, but Miele collected a grounder and stepped on second base to end the inning. Graham finished things off with a 1-2-3 seventh.
Nadolny was 2-for-2 at the plate for the Pioneers. Graham (14-5) scattered seven hits over 7.0 innings, striking out and walking one.
Bergman and O'Brien combined for four of the Red Hawks' seven hits. NJAC Rookie of the Year Alex Hill dropped to 17-5, allowing two runs on five hits, striking out seven and walking one in 6.0 innings.
GAME TWO
For a second straight day, the Pioneers fell to the Lions, this time by a 5-1 count.
The College of New Jersey pushed across a pair of runs during the bottom of the first. Ashley Sogluizzo was issued a one-out walk, advanced to second on a groundout and moved to third on a Liz Huttner infield single. Caitlyn Seamster's base hit plated Sogluizzo, and a Colleen Cawley RBI-single drove in Huttner for a 2-0 edge.
TCNJ made it a 4-0 score in the third. Seamster and Huttner had back-to-back singles with one out, Cawley's double scored one run, and Michelle Kent's groundout to short was enough to drive in Huttner.
William Paterson got on the scoreboard during the top of the sixth inning. Nadolny reached base on an error and Vitale singled through the left side. A Mendez fielder's choice resulted in Nadolny being out at third, but Warner's base hit plated freshman Laura Henriquez (Westampton, N.J./Rancocas Valley Regional), who entered as a pinch runner for Vitale. Junior outfielder Raquel Roder's (Hoboken, N.J./Hoboken) single loaded the bases with two outs to bring reliever Graham to the plate. Starting pitcher Kelsey Hand (Mountainville, N.Y./Cornwall Central) re-entered to hit, but her strikeout ended the WP rally.
TCNJ tacked on an insurance run during the home half of the sixth as a Kristen Lake pinch-hit single and a Kelly Hommen double produced a single score.
Miele, Vitale and Warner all had two hits for the Pioneers. Hand started and finished the game inside the circle, surrendering three runs and five hits in 1.2 innings (9-3). Graham tossed the middle 4.1 innings, giving up six hits and a pair of runs.
Seamster was 3-for-3 with a double, RBI and run scored. Lauren Fitzsimmons pitched the complete game, allowing one run on eight hits, striking out four and walking two (11-3).
William Paterson will hope to hear its name called when the NCAA Division III Tournament field is announced Monday, May 9, at 12:00 p.m. on ncaa.com.
