WAYNE, N.J. – The William Paterson softball team (18-4, 4-2 NJAC) rolled to an 8-0, five-inning opening victory against Rutgers-Newark (9-13, 1-5 NJAC) April 10 before rallying for a 10-9, eight-inning win during the night cap.
 
Game One
WP scored during four of its five at-bats for an 8-0 triumph.
 
Junior shortstop Rachel Wasilak (Livingston, N.J./Livingston) led off with a single through the left side of the infield and was sacrificed to second by sophomore center fielder Eleni Lutas (Pompton Plains, N.J./Pequannock). After a caught foul ball for the second out of the frame, sophomore second baseman Kaitlyn Poretti (Florence, N.J./Florence Memorial) singled in Wasilak, junior catcher Kim Fryer (East Stroudsburg, Pa./East Stroudsburg South) doubled down the left-field line and junior right fielder Nicole Fryer (East Stroudsburg, Pa./East Stroudsburg South) hit a two-run single to right center for a 3-0 first-inning edge.
 
The Pioneers added two more in the second. Senior first baseman Tracy Geller (Commack, N.Y./Commack) started the frame by reaching second base on an error, and Wasilak followed with a triple to left center. Two batters later, another error allowed Wasilak to touch home plate and make it a 5-0 margin.
 
WP extended it to 7-0 during the home half of the fourth. Lutas singled through the right side and stole second, and freshman third baseman Karley Jo Greulich (Oakland, N.J./Indian Hills) followed with an RBI-single up the middle. Nicole Fryer had a two-out base hit through the left side, and junior designated hitter Salina Pellios (Middlesex, N.J./Middlesex) delivered freshman Marlene Arabia (Bloomingdale, N.J./Butler) with a single up the middle.
 
Geller opened the seventh with a walk and Wasilak ended the game with a run-scoring double to center field.
 
Wasilak finished 3-for-4 with a double, triple, two RBI and a pair of runs scored. Pellios was 3-for-3 and drove in a run, and Nicole Fryer went 2-for-3 with two RBI.
 
Junior Allison Podmajersky (Red Bank, N.J./Middletown South) improved to 11-2 with 5.0 innings of three-hit ball, striking out three and walking one.
 
Sophomore pitcher Kelly Yusko was 2-for-2 at the plate, and allowed seven runs (five earned) on 12 hits while striking out one (8-8) in 4.0 innings for Rutgers-Newark. Sophomore Morgan Walizer gave up one run on a hit and a walk.
 
Game Two
The Pioneers scored twice during the bottom of the seventh to level the score, and three more times in the eighth for a 10-9 win.
 
The Scarlet Raiders struck first with a three-run third inning. A single and fielder's choice left a runner on first base with two outs, and a Samantha Held base hit and an error loaded the bags. Freshman first baseman Brittany Robertson's walk forced across the game's first run, and sophomore second baseman Kayla Gallo followed with a two-run single.
 
WP got one run back during the home half of the same frame, as senior left fielder Kelsey Wimmershoff (Park Ridge, N.J./Park Ridge) led off with an infield single and Wasilak added a double to left center.
 
A Nicole Fryer base hit, catcher's interference and Gabrielle Castelli (Cedar Grove, N.J./Cedar Grove) single loaded the bases with zero outs in the fourth, and Wimmershoff drew a base on balls to make it a 3-2 margin.
 
Rutgers-Newark used a strikeout/wild pitch, single, fielder's choice and walk to load the bases with one out in the top of the fifth, and Gallo drilled a grand slam to left-center field for a 7-2 lead.
 
William Paterson got back within striking distance with three runs in the bottom of the sixth. Pellios opened the frame with a double to left center and Podmajersky got aboard thanks to an error. Wimmershoff sacrificed the runners to second and third, and Wasilak drove them in with a double down the left-field line. Greulich later lifted a sac fly to right and the Pioneers trailed, 7-5.
 
Kim Fryer opened the home half of the seventh by doubling off the top of the fence in left center, and after a flyout, Pellios drew a base on balls and was lifted for freshman pinch runner Christine Griffith (Upper Saddle River, N.J./Northern Highlands Regional). A groundout resulted in two Pioneers in scoring position, and Wimmershoff's double to left center tied the game at 7-7 and forced extra innings.
 
Sophomore left fielder Elizabeth Marflak started the top of the eighth as the runner on second base, and a Kelsey Lucas hit by pitch and Yusko RBI-double down the left-field line handed the Scarlet Raiders the edge. Freshman designated hitter Liesel Johnson added a run-scoring bunt single, and Rutgers-Newark owned a 9-7 lead.
 
Wasilak was placed on second to open the bottom of the frame. After a groundout, Greulich singled to left, and an error on the play was enough to allow Wasilak to slide across the plate in time. A fielder's choice and Kim Fryer walk were followed by Nicole Fryer's RBI-single into left field, and Pellios delivered her second walk-off base hit of the week when she sent a pitch into left field.  
 
Wasilak went 2-for-5 with a pair of doubles, three RBI and two runs scored. Wimmershoff finished 2-for-2 while adding a double, three RBI and a run scored.
 
Castelli gave up seven runs (four earned) on seven hits and two walks while striking out five over 4.1 innings. Podmajersky (12-2) gave up five hits and two runs (one earned) with one walk and four strikeouts in 3.2 innings inside the circle.
 
Gallo was 2-for-4 with a grand slam and six RBI. Yusko went 4-for-5 with a double and RBI, and pitched all 7.2 innings, surrendering 10 runs (seven earned) with 14 hits and four walks (8-9).
 
William Paterson will play a doubleheader at Kean Tuesday, April 12, at 3:00 p.m.
 
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