BOX SCORE (Game #1)
BOX SCORE (Game #2)

CAMDEN, N.J. – Freshman first baseman Jessica Phillips' (Woolwich, N.J./Kingsway Regional) two-run double in extra innings helped the William Paterson softball team (17-5, 4-2 NJAC) earn a pair of one-run victories at Rutgers-Camden (8-11, 1-5 NJAC), 5-4 and 3-2 in eight innings, on April 6. 

GAME ONE
The Pioneers held off the Scarlet Raptors for an opening 5-4 win.  Phillips finished 2-for-3 with a double and a run scored to lead WP.

Kaitlyn Gaskill started the bottom of the fourth inning with a solo home run, allowing Rutgers-Camden to draw first blood.  But, that lead was short lived, as William Paterson crossed the plate three times during its next at-bat.  Phillips started the frame with a single and sophomore designated player Rachel Cannata (Waldwick, N.J./Paramus Catholic) reached safely on a fielder's choice sacrifice.  They were replaced by pinch runners Laura Henriquez (Westampton, N.J./Rancocas Valley Regional) and Kelsey Principe (Parsippany, N.J./Parsippany), who moved up a base thanks to a Raquel Roder (Hoboken, N.J./Hoboken) one-out base hit.  Sophomore pinch hitter Danielle Capozzi (Wanaque, N.J./Lakeland Regional) grounded a ball to the shortstop, and the throw home was not in time, resulting in a RBI-fielder's choice.  Freshman Melissa Swain (West Berlin, N.J./Paul VI) drew a pinch-hit walk, forcing across Principe, and sophomore shortstop Katelyn Miele (Flanders, N.J./Pope John XXIII) knocked in Roder with a ground ball, making it a 3-1 score.

A single and two errors handed the Scarlet Raptors an unearned run during the home half of the fifth.  Junior outfielder Samantha Mulderig (Sewell, N.J./Washington Twp.) blasted a ball over the center-field fence to open the sixth inning, and a Phillips double and a RBI-single by senior third baseman Jessica Maciolek (Hamilton, N.J./Steinert) gave the Pioneers some breathing room at 5-2.

WP needed that insurance, as a two-out double made it a 5-4 score.  Freshman Kerrin Dys (North Arlington, N.J./North Arlington) replaced starter Kelsey Hand (Mountainville, N.Y./Cornwall Central) and induced a game-ending groundout to end the threat.

Five Pioneers accounted for the team's six hits.  Hand (5-1) allowed four runs (three earned) and seven hits in 6.2 innings inside the circle.

Gaskill was 2-for-2 with the solo homer for Rutgers-Camden.  Senior Amanda Cassella took the loss (4-6), giving up five earned runs during the complete-game effort.

GAME TWO
After allowing Rutgers-Camden to knot the score during the bottom of the seventh inning, the Pioneers responded to improve to 4-0 this season in extra innings.

Cannata started the top of the fifth with a pinch-hit single to left center before being replaced by Maciolek.  She was sacrificed to second by freshman catcher Lachelle Rouse (Pine Hill, N.J./Overbrook Senior) and trotted home thanks to a Miele two-bagger to right-center field.

Gaskill hit her second homer of the day, this one to center field, to tie the game during the first at-bat of the Raptors' seventh.

With Capozzi at second base to begin the top half of the eighth, Miele put down a successful sacrifice bunt, pinch hitter Nicole Walls (Bordentown, N.J./Bordentown Regional) was issued a base on balls and freshman second baseman Christina Austin (Sewell, N.J./Washington Twp.) re-entered to run for Walls.  Mulderig's fielder's choice resulted in an out at home plate, but Phillips delivered Austin and Mulderig with her double to left, handing WP a 3-1 edge.

Rutgers-Camden cut that advantage in half with a leadoff single, plating the runner at second to start the bottom of the frame.  A strikeout was followed by a single, but Danielle Meng got caught up in a rundown between third base and home plate, the second out of the inning.  Hand came in to relieve senior Michele Graham (Hawthorne, N.J./Hawthorne), and a flyout left the tying run at third base as the game concluded.

Phillips was 2-for-4 with a double and a pair of RBI.  Graham improved to 9-2, surrendering two runs (one earned) and nine hits in 7.2 innings.

Tabby Dick and Vicki D'Anduono were both 2-for-4 for the Scarlet Raptors.  Junior Ashleigh Johnson (3-5) gave up seven hits and three runs in 8.0 innings of work.

William Paterson will host New Jersey City for a pair of games Tuesday, April 10, at 3:00 p.m.