Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 UNION, N.J. – Paced by clutch hitting and solid pitching performances from two rookies, the William Paterson softball team (22-6, 10-2 NJAC) upset No. 23 Kean (24-8, 9-3 NJAC) April 17, sweeping the Cougars 8-4 and 4-3.
 
Game One
The WP offense exploded for eight runs in game one to defeat the Cougars 8-4.

The Pioneers struck for four runs during the top of the third. Singles from junior second baseman Christina Austin (Sewell, N.J./Washington Twp.) and freshman right fielder Nicole Fryer (East Stroudsburg, Pa./East Stroudsburg South) and a walk to junior center fielder Kelsey Principe (Parsippany, N.J./Parsippany) loaded the bases with one out. Senior shortstop Katelyn Miele (Flanders, N.J./Pope John XXIII) followed with a two-run single to left field to give the Pioneers a 2-0 lead. After Principe and Miele advanced on a passed ball, junior designated player Kristen Gardner (Audubon, Pa./Methacton) plated two runs with a base hit to center to bring the score to 4-0.
 
Kean threatened in the bottom of the frame, putting runners on first and second with one out. Freshman pitcher Allison Podmajersky (Red Bank, N.J./Middletown South) was able to get Sandra Binkiewicz to line into a double play to get out of the jam.
 
WP tacked on two more runs in the top of the fifth. Miele led off the inning with a single to right, advanced to third when sophomore left fielder Kelsey Wimmershoff (Park Ridge, N.J./Park Ridge) reached on an error and scored on a Gardner sacrifice fly. Freshman third baseman Rachel Wasilak (Livingston, N.J./Livingston) followed with a single up the middle to plate Wimmershoff and give the Pioneers a 6-0 lead.
 
A Miele RBI-fielder's choice and a Wimmershoff RBI-groundout brought the score to 8-0 after five and a half innings.
 
Courtney Yard hit a grand slam to center field to put the Cougars on the board during the bottom of the sixth and cut the Pioneer lead to 8-4.
 
Miele went 2-for-4 with three RBI and two runs scored, and Gardner drove in three runs for the Pioneers. Podmajersky (6-3) earned the win, allowing four runs on eight hits while walking one and striking out seven in the complete-game effort.
 
Sabo collected three hits and Yard had four RBI for Kean. Yard (13-5) picked up the loss, allowing eight runs (six earned) on nine hits and two walks with five strikeouts.
 
Game Two
WP was able to hold off a seventh-inning comeback attempt by the Cougars and earn a 4-3 victory to complete the sweep.
 
Fryer blasted a leadoff home run over the left-field fence to give the Pioneers an early 1-0 lead.
 
A Yard groundout got Kean on the board during the bottom of the frame and tied the game at 1-1.
 
WP scored twice more in the second, taking advantage of a Cougar error and passed ball to take a 3-1 lead.
 
Two errors during the top of the third inning put runners on first and third with no outs for Gardner, who singled to center to bring the score to 4-1.
 
Four Kean hits and an error brought the score to 4-3 after three innings.
 
The Cougars threatened in the top of the seventh, loading the bases with two outs, but freshman pitcher Gabrielle Castelli (Cedar Grove, N.J./Cedar Grove) was able to get Kelly Moorehead to strike out looking to secure the victory for the Pioneers.
 
Gardner went 2-for-2 with an RBI for WP. Castelli (9-2) earned the victory, allowing three runs (two earned) on nine hits and two walks while striking out 12 batters in 7.0 innings.
 
Moorehead collected two hits for the Cougars. Rebecca Rotola (11-3) picked up the loss, allowing four runs (one earned) on four hits and striking out two.  
 
William Paterson will travel to Rutgers-Camden for a doubleheader on Friday, April 18, at 2:00 p.m.
 
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