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

CLERMONT, FLA. -- The William Paterson softball team (3-7) split a pair of games against ranked opponents during its final day at the NTC Spring Games March 22.  The Pioneers fell to No. 15 Plattsburgh State (7-4), 10-2 in five innings, but rebounded for a 5-4 win against No. 6 Eastern Connecticut State (0-1).

GAME ONE
The Cardinals scored six runs in the fourth inning, as No. 15 Plattsburgh cruised past the Pioneers, 10-2, in five innings.

William Paterson got on the board in the top of the first.  Junior designated player Laura Henriquez (Westampton, N.J./Rancocas Valley Regional) and sophomore second baseman Christina Austin (Sewell, N.J./Washington Twp.) led off with back-to-back singles and advanced on a Katelyn Miele (Flanders, N.J./Pope John XXIII) sacrifice bunt. After senior outfielder Samantha Mulderig (Sewell, N.J./Washington Twp.) walked, freshman catcher Liz DeVenio (Little Falls, N.J./Passaic Valley Regional) singled to score Henriquez for the Pioneers' first run of the game. 

Plattsburgh struck back in the bottom of the inning, thanks to a two-run home run from Brianna Clarke.

Doubles from freshman first baseman Tracy Geller (Commack, N.Y./Commack) and Henriquez plated the Pioneers' second run and tied the game in the top of the second.

The Cardinals scored two runs in the second and six in the fourth, taking advantage of three Pioneers errors and scattering eight hits.  

Henriquez went 2-for-3 at the plate with an RBI for the Pioneers. Clarke paced the Cardinals with two hits and three RBI.

Samantha Moss picked up the win, allowing two runs and striking out one batter in 4.0 innings. Kerrin Dys (North Arlington, N.J./North Arlington) (0-3) allowed nine hits and five earned runs in 3.0 innings in the circle, taking the loss.  Kelsey Hand (Mountainville, N.Y./Cornwall Central) gave up three earned runs on three hits in 1.0 inning of relief.

GAME TWO
Austin went 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored, as the Pioneers defeated No. 6 Eastern Connecticut State, 5-4.

The Warriors took the lead in the top of the first, rallying to score with two outs.

WP tied the game with a run of its own in the third, as Austin singled to score Geller.

Eastern Connecticut answered by scoring twice in the top of the fourth on a two-run double from Alyssa Hancock.

In the bottom of the inning, DeVino walked and advanced to second on a passed ball. Pinch runner Lauren Bogart (West Milford, N.J./West Milford) advanced to third on a wild pitch before scoring on a double from Mulderig. After a pitching change, senior designated player Nicole Walls (Bordentown, N.J./Bordentown Regional) singled to bring in Mulderig.  Chelsea Batelli (Wayne, N.J./DePaul Catholic) pinch ran for Walls and scored on three passed balls for the Pioneers' fourth run of the game.

WP added one more run in the fifth, as Austin scored on a DeVino single.

Eastern Connecticut rallied in the sixth, loading the bases with just one out. The Warriors scored one run on a sacrifice fly, but Batelli was able to get out of the inning with the lead.

Kelsey Principe (Parsippany, N.J./Parsippany) also recorded a hit for the Pioneers. Arielle Cooper led Eastern Connecticut with two hits and an RBI.

Batelli (2-2) struck out three batters and allowed three earned runs in 7.0 innings to record the win for WP. Sam Rossetti (0-1) allowed two runs (one earned) on three hits for the Warriors, taking the loss. 

William Paterson will play its home opener Tuesday, March 26, against NYU Poly at 3:00 p.m.

For all of the latest information on the Pioneers, visit http://www.wpupioneers.com,  http://www.facebook.com/wpupioneers,  http://www.youtube.com/thewpupioneers and http://twitter.com/wpupioneers.