Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 EWING, N.J. – The No. 21 William Paterson softball team (29-7, 15-3 NJAC) completed late-inning comebacks in both games of the doubleheader to sweep The College of New Jersey (10-24, 4-14 NJAC) April 26. WP won game one 2-1 and earned a 3-2 victory in game two.
 
With the victories, William Paterson clinches the No. 1 seed of the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) Tournament. The Pioneers will face sixth seeded Rutgers-Camden on Tuesday, April 29, at 4:00 p.m.
 
Game One
WP scored twice during the top of the fifth inning to come from behind and defeat the Lions 2-1 in game one.
 
After the teams exchanged zeros for the first three and a half innings, TCNJ got on the board when Colleen Phelan doubled, advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt and scored on a base hit from Jamie Purcell to give the Lions a 1-0 lead.
 
The Pioneers loaded the bases in the fifth after freshman third baseman Rachel Wasilak (Livingston, N.J./Livingston) singled, junior center fielder Kelsey Principe (Parsippany, N.J./Parsippany) reached on a fielder's choice and junior pinch hitter Kristen Gardner (Audubon, Pa./Methacton) was hit by a pitch. With two outs, junior Keanna Ross (Pine Hill, N.J./Overbrook Senior) delivered a pinch-hit single and freshman right fielder Nicole Fryer (East Stroudsburg, Pa./East Stroudsburg South) drew a walk to give the Pioneers a 2-1 advantage.
 
The Lions threatened during the sixth, but sophomore left fielder Kelsey Wimmershoff (Park Ridge, N.J./Park Ridge) threw the tying run out at home to end the inning.
 
Freshman pitcher Allison Podmajersky (Red Bank, N.J./Middletown South) retired the TCNJ batters in order in the bottom of the seventh to secure the victory for the Pioneers.
 
Wasilak went 2-for-3 with a run scored, and Fryer collected a hit and an RBI for WP. Podmajersky (7-4) earned the win, allowing one run on four hits while walking one and striking out seven in the complete-game effort.
 
Purcell picked up two hits and an RBI for TCNJ. Alex Carisone (3-8) took the loss, giving up two runs on five hits with one walk and four strikeouts in 7.0 innings.  
    
Game Two
WP completed its second comeback victory of the day, scoring two times during the top of the seventh to defeat TCNJ 3-2 in game two.
 
The Lions struck first, taking a 1-0 lead in the third on a solo home run from Lindsey Williams. They added to their lead during the fifth when Williams scored on an RBI single from Jessica Kennick to bring the score to 2-0.
 
The Pioneers cut the lead to 2-1 during the sixth when Wimmershoff walked, advanced to third on a double down the left-field line from freshman catcher Kim Fryer (East Stroudsburg, Pa./East Stroudsburg South) and scored on a Gardner single.
 
Podmajersky led off the top of the seventh with a double and scored on a Nicole Fryer two-base hit to tie the game at 2-2. Senior shortstop Katelyn Miele (Flanders, N.J./Pope John XXIII) and Wimmershoff followed with walks to load the bases with two outs. Kim Fryer then came through with a single to give the Pioneers a 3-2 lead.
  
TCNJ was able to get the tying run on second base with no outs in the bottom of the frame, but Podmajersky got a foul out and two strikeouts to end the game.
 
Wimmershoff and Kim Fryer each collected two hits for the Pioneers. Podmajersky (8-4) earned her second win of the afternoon, allowing just one hit and striking out two batters in 2.0 innings of relief. Freshman Gabrielle Castelli (Cedar Grove, N.J./Cedar Grove) gave up two runs on eight hits and struck out four in 5.0 innings.
 
Williams went 2-for-4 with two runs scored and an RBI for TCNJ. Katie Hourihan (2-6) took the loss, allowing one run on two hits and two walks while striking out one in 1.0 inning of relief. Ashtin Helmer gave up two runs on five hits while walking two and striking out five in 6.0 innings.  
 
William Paterson will host St. Joseph's-Long Island for a doubleheader on Sunday, April 27, at 12:00 p.m.
 
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