Video Highlights GLASSBORO, N.J. – Third-seeded William Paterson (27-10-1, 13-5 NJAC) held an early lead but couldn't take advantage of several chances to score down the stretch, falling 3-1 to second-seeded Ramapo (26-11-1, 13-4-1 NJAC) May 1 in the second round of the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) Softball Tournament.
The Pioneers will take on top-seeded Rowan (34-5, 14-4 NJAC) in an elimination game Saturday, May 2, at 10:00 a.m. The winner of that contest will then face Ramapo Saturday at 2:00 p.m. Rowan is hosting the remainder of the double-elimination tournament that ends Sunday, May 3.
WP struck first with a single run during the top of the first inning. Sophomore right fielder
Nicole Fryer (East Stroudsburg, Pa./East Stroudsburg South) led off with a double to left field, and after a sacrifice bunt by senior center fielder
Kelsey Principe (Parsippany, N.J./Parsippany), sophomore shortstop
Rachel Wasilak (Livingston, N.J./Livingston) hit a sac fly to right for a 1-0 edge.
The Pioneers had two on with one out in the second as well as a runner on second base with two outs in the third, but could not add to their lead.
The Roadrunners started the bottom half of the third inning with a single to center, and sophomore shortstop Nicole Hernandez followed with a home run over the left-field fence, making it a 2-1 Ramapo advantage.
William Paterson had a runner on third base with one out in the top of the fourth, but an attempt to tag up on a fly ball to right field resulted in an inning-ending double play when the tag was applied at the plate.
A groundout double play ended the Pioneers' hopes in the fifth. During the top of the sixth, sophomore designated player
Gabrielle Castelli (Cedar Grove, N.J./Cedar Grove) sent a one-out base hit to right, senior third baseman
Lachelle Rouse (Pine Hill, N.J./Overbrook Senior) was hit by a pitch and junior left fielder
Kelsey Wimmershoff (Park Ridge, N.J./Park Ridge) walked to load the bases. A lineout to the first baseman was the second out of the frame, and freshman second baseman
Kaitlyn Poretti (Florence, N.J./Florence Memorial) followed with a fly ball hit to the deepest part of the park, but the center fielder was able to catch it at the fence and end the inning.
Two singles and a sacrifice left Ramapo with runners on second and third with one out in the bottom of the sixth inning, and junior third baseman Mikayla Melendez was able to add an insurance run with her sacrifice fly to center and make it a 3-1 score.
Nicole Fryer, Wasilak and Castelli were able to draw walks, loading the bases with two outs during the top of the seventh, but a final flyout ended the game.
Nicole Fryer finished 2-for-3 and scored a run as WP left 10 runners on base and saw its 14-game win streak snapped. Sophomore pitcher
Allison Podmajersky (Red Bank, N.J./Middletown South) fell to 11-5, allowing three runs on four hits with four strikeouts.
Hernandez was 1-for-2 with the two-run homer for the Roadrunners. Freshman starter Katrina Buczkowski (13-5) threw a total of 5.1 innings, giving up one run and six hits while posting five strikeouts and two walks. Classmate Paige Merle accounted for 1.0 inning and surrendered two hits, and freshman Christina Brizek started the seventh and recorded two outs and a pair of walks before being replaced by Buczkowski.
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