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

VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS

WAYNE, N.J. – The William Paterson softball team (8-12) split a doubleheader with NYU- Poly (12-5) April 5, bouncing back from a 4-2 loss in game one to win game two 3-0.

GAME ONE
Senior pitcher Miranda Merilli went the distance while striking out eight and giving up two runs as NYU-Poly took down William Paterson in game one of the doubleheader 4-2.

The Fighting Blue Jays struck first during the top of the third, using a double by senior Corine Fitzgibbons and an RBI single from senior Shelby Bruns to give NYU-Poly an early 1-0 lead.

The Pioneers threatened in the bottom half of the inning, with consecutive singles by sophomore Christina Austin (Miller Place, N.Y./Miller Place) and senior Samantha Mulderig (Sewell N.J./Washington Twp.). The runners would advance to second and third after a wild pitch with one out, but were left stranded after a strikeout and groundout to end the third frame.

NYU-Poly put the pressure right back on the Pioneers, hitting back-to-back singles and a sacrifice bunt to put runners on second and third with one out.  Austin threw out a runner at home on a fielder's choice to record the second out, but a bloop single behind first base by Bruns would bring home a run. Bruns then stole second, allowing junior Ryane Pappa to score on the throw, giving the Fighting Blue Jays a 3-0 lead after three and a half innings.

The Pioneers got on the board in the bottom half of the fourth. After William Paterson loaded the bases with three straight hits, junior Katelyn Miele (Flanders, N.J./Pope JohnXXIII) lined a two-run single to right and advanced to second on the throw home, setting up runners on second and third with one out. After a strikeout, Mulderig a walked to load the bases, but a strikeout would leave all three runners stranded, leaving the score at 3-2 after four innings.

After loading the bases with no outs, the Blue Jays only managed to push one run across after two runners were thrown out at home on consecutive fielder's choices and sophomore relief pitcher Kerrin Dys (North Arlington, N.J./North Arlington) erased the final batter of the inning with a strikeout to keep the NYU-Poly lead at 4-2.

The Pioneers would get two runners on base in the bottom of the seventh, but failed to score as the Blue Jays held onto a 4-2 lead.

Miranda (7-3) notched the win while giving up 12 hits and two earned runs through 7.0 innings.

Kelsey Hand (Mountainville, N.Y./Cornwall Central) dropped to 2-3 on the season after allowing four runs on eight hits and striking out one in 4.0 innings pitched.

Miele collected two hits and two RBI and Austin went 2-for-3 at the plate.

GAME TWO
Mulderig went 1-for-2 with a go-ahead, two-run triple in the bottom of the sixth inning while freshman Chelsea Batelli (Wanye, N.J./DePaul Catholic) threw a complete-game shutout to lead the Pioneers to a 3-0 victory in game two.

NYU-Poly loaded the bases in the second, but Batelli notched a strikeout to end the threat and keep the game scoreless after an inning and a half.

The Fighting Blue Jays threatened again the top of the fourth inning, but a diving catch at shortstop by Miele and a sharp groundout to Bateilli kept zeros on the board.

During the top of the sixth, the Pioneers broke into the run column. After singles by junior Laura Henriquez (Westhampton, N.J./Rancocas Valley Regional) and Miele, Mulderig drove in two runs with a triple to left-center field.  Sophomore Lauren Bogart (West Milford, N.J./West Milford) brought in one more run with a looping single to right field to give the Pioneers a 3-0 lead.

That lead would hold after Batelli retired the Blue Jays in order in the top of the seventh, culminating with a game-ending diving catch in center by Mulderig.

Six Pioneers had base hits in the game. Bogart scored and drove in a run, while Miele and Austin each added a run scored.

Batelli (4-5) gave up six hits while fanning five in the complete-game effort.

Sophomore Lyndsey Rathburn (4-1) would receive her first loss of the season, throwing 4.0 innings while giving up seven hits and three earned runs.

The Pioneers will host Ramapo as they “Beat Cancer with a Bat” Saturday, April 6, at 1:00 p.m.

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