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

CLERMONT, FLA. – The William Paterson softball team (1-5) fell to Amherst (3-2), 9-5, and Dubuque (5-4), 4-2, at the NTC Spring Games in Clermont, Fla., March 19.
 
GAME ONE
The Pioneers scored four runs in the fifth, but Amherst was able to hold off WP and come away with a 9-5 victory.

The Jeffs got on the board first, scoring two runs in the second inning.

The Pioneers struck back in the bottom of the third. After junior shortstop Katelyn Miele (Flanders, N.J./Pope John XXIII) walked, sernior outfielder Samantha Mulderig (Sewell, N.J./Washington Twp.) reached on an error, putting runners on second and third with no outs. The Jeffs were able to get the first out before a Nicole Walls (Bordentown, N.J./Bordentown Regional) groundout scored Miele for the Pioneers' first run of the morning.

Amherst added a run in the fourth and padded their lead in the fifth, stringing together six hits and taking advantage of a Pioneer error to plate five runs.

In the bottom of the fifth, back-to-back singles from Miele and Mulderig, a fielder's choice from freshman catcher Liz DeVenio (Little Falls, N.J. / Passaic Valley Regional) and an Amherst error brought the Pioneers to within seven runs and set up runners on second and third with no outs. Mulderig scored on a single from Walls, who advanced to second on the throw home. Senior second baseman Mandy Muraca (Miller Place, N.Y./Miller Place) singled up the middle to plate DeVenio and advance pinch runner Danielle Capozzi (Miller Place, N.Y./Miller Place) to third. After the Jeffs were able to get Keanna Ross (Pine Hill, N.J./Overbrook Senior) to pop up for the first out, Capozzi came home on an error by the third baseman, scoring the Pioneers' fifth run.

Amherst scored again in the top of the seventh, capping their victory.

Miele paced WP with two hits and two runs scored and Walls contributed two RBI. Sophomore Idalia Friedson led Amherst, going 4-for-4 with three runs scored and an RBI.

Arielle Doering did not allow an earned run in 4.0 innings, earning the win for Amherst. Chelsea Batelli (Wayne, N.J./DePaul Catholic) took the loss (0-2), allowing eight runs in 4.1 innings.  Kelsey Hand (Mountainville, N.Y./Cornwall Central) allowed one run in 2.2 innings of relief.

GAME TWO
Dubuque scored three runs in the fifth inning to complete a 4-2 comeback win.  

The Pioneers scored first when sophomore second baseman Christina Austin (Sewell, N.J./Washington Twp.) came home on a Tracy Geller (Commack, N.Y./Commack) groundout to second base in the top of the second inning.

They struck again in the fourth as DeVenio worked a walk, advanced on a sacrifice bunt and a groundout and stole home.

The Spartans answered with a run of their own in the bottom half of the inning.

WP threatened again in the fifth, putting runners on second and third with one out, but were not able to capitalize on the opportunity.

A single, walk, throwing error and double allowed the Spartans to score three times in the bottom of the fifth, giving them a lead they would never relinquish.

Freshman third baseman Erika Tucker (Cream Ridge, N.J./New Egypt) led the Pioneers with a two-hit afternoon. Freshman Jennifer Pohlman contributed a hit and two RBI for Dubuque.

Senior Emily Michels threw a complete game, striking out four Pioneers on her way to earning the victory. Kerrin Dys (North Arlington, N.J. / North Arlington) picked up the loss (0-2), giving up three runs, two earned, in 4.1 innings. Hand allowed one unearned run in 1.2 innings of relief. 

William Paterson will face Washington & Jefferson and Framingham State at 9:00 and 11:00 a.m., respectively, on Wednesday, March 20.

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