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

VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS

WAYNE, N.J. – The William Paterson softball team (19-19, 10-8 NJAC) clinched the fifth seed in the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) Tournament as they split a doubleheader with The College of New Jersey (25-11, 12-6 NJAC) on Senior Day, April 27. The Pioneers bounced back from a 2-1 loss to win game two 7-3.

WP will travel to No. 2 Montclair State for the opening game of the tournament Tuesday, April 30, at 4:00 p.m.
 
GAME ONE
TCNJ broke up a 1-1 tie in the top of the fourth inning to win game one of the twin bill, 2-1.

The Lions took an early 1-0 lead, loading the bases with one out and scoring on a sacrifice fly during the top of the first.

The Pioneers tied the score in the bottom of the second.  Freshman designated player Liz DeVenio (Little Falls, N.J./Passaic Valley Regional) lined a single up the middle and junior pinch runner Laura Henriquez (Westampton, N.J./Rancocas Valley Regional) scored on a double to left-center field from freshman outfielder Kelsey Wimmershoff (Park Ridge, N.J./Park Ridge).

TCNJ retook the lead during the top of the fourth, once again loading the bases with one out.  A ground ball from Liz Huttner plated Deanna Utter to give the Lions a 2-1 lead, but Kerrin Dys (North Arlington, N.J./North Arlington) induced a groundout for the third out and prevented further damage.

Wimmershoff collected a hit and an RBI for the Pioneers. Dys (5-8) allowed two runs on six hits in 7.0 innings to pick up the loss.

Michelle Casale went 2-for-3 with a run scored to pace TCNJ. Ashtin Helmer (15-3) allowed one runs on three hits and struck out four in 7.0 to earn the win.
  

GAME TWO
William Paterson scored five runs in the second on their way to defeating TCNJ 7-3 in game two.

Three singles plated the first run of the game and gave TCNJ a 1-0 lead during the top of the second inning.

With one out in the bottom half of the inning, junior pinch hitter Danielle Capozzi (Miller Place, N.Y./Miller Place) worked a bases-loaded walk to plate the Pioneers' first run. After the Lions recorded the second out of the inning, sophomore outfielder Kelsey Principe (Parsippany, N.J./Parsippany) blasted a two-run double to left-center field and junior shortstop Katelyn Miele (Flanders, N.J./Pope John XXIII) lined a two-run triple down the right-field line to give the Pioneers a 5-1 lead.

The Lions got a run back during the top of the fourth after Lindsey Williams singled, advanced to third on a wild pitch and passed ball and scored on a Kristen Fitzsimmons single to make the score 5-2.

In the bottom of the fourth, Erika Tucker (Cream Ridge, N.J./New Egypt) led off with a single and Samantha Mulderig (Sewell, N.J./Washington Twp.) reached on an error. After both runners advanced on a sacrifice bunt from Principe, Tucker scored on a ground ball to shortstop to give the Pioneers a 6-2 lead.

TCNJ cut the lead to 6-3 during the top half of the fifth on an RBI single to left field from Williams.

Wimmershoff lined a double to left field and advanced to third and scored on wild pitch to bring the score to 7-3 after five innings.  

Henriquez went 2-for-3 and Principe collected two hits, two RBI and a run scored. Senior Kelsey Hand (Mountainville, N.Y./Cornwall) improved to 6-4 on the season, allowing three runs (two earned) on eight hits and striking out one in the victory.

Williams paced TCNJ with two hits, one RBI and one run scored.  Alex Carisone (5-3) took the loss, allowing seven runs (three earned) on nine hits and striking out three in 4.1 innings. Kate Hourihan tossed 1.2 scoreless innings of relief for the Lions.

Following game two, the Pioneers honored their four seniors, Hand, Mulderig, Mandy Muraca (Miller Place, N.Y./Miller Place) and Nicole Walls (Bordentown, N.J./Bordentown Regional).

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