UNION, N.J. – Second-seeded William Paterson (29-12-1, 13-5 NJAC) will face top-seeded Kean (27-11-1, 11-6-1 NJAC) to determine the NCAA Division III Softball Tournament Union (N.J.) Regional title Sunday, May 10.
Live statistics and
live video will be available.
The two teams will meet at 12:00 p.m. If WP wins and hands the Cougars their first loss of the double-elimination tournament, a final contest will be played Sunday at 2:30 p.m. to determine the regional champion.
WP students with I.D. will be admitted for free, courtesy of the Division of Student Development. Single-day tickets are $6.00 for adults and $3.00 for senior citizens, veterans, students and children.
The Regional winner advances to an NCAA Tournament Super Regional Friday-Saturday, May 15-16. The NCAA Softball Championship Finals will be held Thursday-Tuesday, May 21-26, in Salem, Va.
WP is making its 13th NCAA Tournament appearance (1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2009, 2014, 2015), reaching the NCAA Softball Championship Finals (College World Series) in 2001 and 2005.
The Pioneers started the NCAA Tournament with a 9-1 first-round loss to third-seeded Staten Island (31-10) May 8, then fought their way out of the loser's bracket with a 9-2 victory against fourth-seeded Farmingdale State (22-15) and a 9-1 win against CSI on May 9.
WP had its 14-game win streak snapped by a 3-1 loss against second-seeded and eventual champion Ramapo (26-11-1, 13-4-1 NJAC) May 1 in the second round of the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) Tournament, then was eliminated by top-seeded and ninth-ranked Rowan (35-5, 14-4 NJAC) May 2, 10-4. WP opened the postseason with a 5-0 first-round victory against fourth-seeded The College of New Jersey (19-11, 12-6 NJAC) April 28.
Earlier this season, William Paterson and Kean split a doubleheader in Wayne on April 12. The Cougars won the opener, 6-1, and the Pioneers took the night cap, 2-0.
First-team all-NJAC sophomore infielder
Rachel Wasilak (Livingston, N.J./Livingston) leads WP with a .369 batting average, 10 doubles and 33 RBI while adding three triples and 23 runs scored. Sophomore outfielder
Nicole Fryer (East Stroudsburg, Pa./East Stroudsburg South) is contributing a .336 average, eight doubles, four triples, two home runs, 22 RBI and a team-high 28 runs scored, while senior outfielder
Kelsey Principe (Parsippany, N.J./Parsippany), a member of the All-NJAC First Team, is hitting .308 with a team-best 13 sacrifice bunts and five triples while scoring 26 runs.
First-team all-conference sophomore
Allison Podmajersky (Red Bank, N.J./Middletown South) is 12-6 with a 1.18 earned-run average in 18 starts and 23 appearances inside the circle, posting 120 strikeouts and 19 walks in 130.1 innings pitched. Classmate
Gabrielle Castelli (Cedar Grove, N.J./Cedar Grove) is 10-5 with a 2.03 ERA in 13 starts and 18 appearances with 62 strikeouts and 18 walks in 79.1 innings. She also is hitting .365 in 52 at-bats while posting four doubles and 16 RBI.
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