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

CLERMONT, FLA. – William Paterson (2-6) suffered a 4-2 loss to Washington & Jefferson (6-5) before bouncing back to defeat Framingham State (0-6), 3-0, at the NTC Softball Spring Games in Clermont, Fla., March 20.
 
GAME ONE
Washington & Jefferson scored three times in the seventh and held off a Pioneer rally in the bottom of the inning to defeat William Paterson, 4-2.

The Presidents got on the board in the top of the first, taking advantage of a Pioneer error.

WP answered with a run of its own in the bottom of the inning. Junior shortstop Katelyn Miele (Flanders, N.J./Pope John XXIII) led off with a walk and advanced on a sacrifice bunt and a groundout. After freshman catcher Liz DeVenio (Little Falls, N.J. / Passaic Valley Regional) walked, she stole second, and Miele scored on the throw.

The Pioneers threatened in the fourth, when freshman designated player Lauren Bogart (West Milford, N.J./West Milford) doubled and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt. The Presidents were able to work out of the jam, throwing Bogart out at the plate as Kelsey Principe (Parsippany, N.J./Parsippany) attempted to steal second.

Washington & Jefferson rallied in the top of the seventh, loading the bases with just one out. A hit by pitch and two singles plated three runs for the Presidents, but senior center fielder Samantha Mulderig (Sewell, N.J./Washington Twp.) ended the inning by throwing out Sadie Marak at the plate.

In the bottom of the seventh, Principe and Laura Henriquez (Westampton, N.J./Rancocas Valley Regional) led off with back-to-back singles and advanced on a Kelsey Hand (Mountainville, N.Y./Cornwall Central) sacrifice bunt. Miele grounded out to third, scoring Principe and bringing the Pioneers to within two runs. Once again, the Presidents were able to get out of the inning, getting sophomore second baseman Christina Austin (Sewell, N.J./Washington Twp.) to pop out to shortstop.

Bogart, Principe and Henriquez accounted for the Pioneers' three hits. Emily Watson paced the Presidents with two hits and two RBI.

Madison Rotto struck out four Pioneers in 7.0 innings, earning the win for Washington & Jefferson. Hand (1-2) allowed three earned runs in 7.0 innings inside the circle, taking the loss. 

GAME TWO
Freshman Chelsea Batelli (Wayne, N.J./DePaul Catholic) (1-2) struck out three batters in 7.0 shutout innings to lead William Paterson to a 3-0 victory against Framingham State.

The Pioneers got on the board in the second inning, when Mulderig and Austin singled and Principe walked, loading the bases with no outs. Mulderig scored on a wild pitch, but the Rams were able to get the next three batters out.

In the bottom of the third, Miele led off with a triple and scored on a Henriquez bunt single. Henriquez advanced to third on a groundout from DeVenio and came home on a wild pitch for the Pioneers' third run of the game.

The Rams threatened in the bottom of the seventh, putting runners on second and third with two outs, but Batelli was able to get Andrea Smith to line out to second and end the game.

Austin picked up two hits for the Pioneers, and Alyssa Begin went 3-for-4 at the plate for Framingham State.

Yaya Faria (0-3) suffered the loss, giving up six hits and three runs in 7.0 innings.   

William Paterson will face No. 15 Plattsburgh State and No. 6 Eastern Connecticut State at 9:00 and 1:00 p.m., respectively, on Friday, March 22.

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