MAHWAH, N.J. – The William Paterson softball team (22-6, 6-4 NJAC) opened its doubleheader at Ramapo (16-10, 6-4 NJAC) with a 3-0 victory April 16, but then saw its seventh-inning rally fall short during a 6-5 decision in the night cap.
Game One
The Pioneers took an early lead during a 3-0 triumph in the first game of the day.
Junior shortstop
Rachel Wasilak (Livingston, N.J./Livingston) opened the contest with a single to center field and was sacrificed to second by sophomore center fielder
Eleni Lutas (Pompton Plains, N.J./Pequannock) before a base hit to left from sophomore second baseman
Kaitlyn Poretti (Florence, N.J./Florence Memorial) resulted in runners on the corners. WP put on the double steal and Poretti was out on the play, but Wasilak safely touched home to make it a 1-0 game.
Junior designated hitter
Salina Pellios (Middlesex, N.J./Middlesex) started the top of the top of the fifth with a double to center, advanced to third via a sacrifice bunt from freshman third baseman
Karley Jo Greulich (Oakland, N.J./Indian Hills) and touched home thanks to a base hit to center field by senior left fielder
Kelsey Wimmershoff (Park Ridge, N.J./Park Ridge).
WP tacked on a seventh-inning insurance run when Wimmershoff and Wasilak drilled doubles to center and left field, respectively.
Wimmershoff went 2-for-3 with a double, RBI and run scored, while Wasilak finished 2-for-4 and collected a double, RBI and run scored.
Junior
Allison Podmajersky (Red Bank, N.J./Middletown South) tossed a complete-game three-hitter, striking out two and walking three (15-2).
Sophomore Katrina Buczkowski (7-5) gave up three runs on eight hits and a walk, striking out two.
Game Two
The Pioneers rallied for a run during the top of the seventh inning, but it wasn't enough as Ramapo salvaged a split with a 6-5 win.
The Roadrunners jumped out to a 3-0 advantage in the bottom of the third. Junior left fielder Grace Brennan led off with a single to left and was sacrificed to second by freshman shortstop Harper Patsko. Sophomore second baseman Ally Spellman followed with a base hit into left, and Brennan scored thanks to a groundout. Two walks loaded the bases for senior center fielder Danielle Saporito, who drove in two runners with a single into center field.
WP answered with a four-run fourth. Three consecutive hits by Wasilak, Lutas and Poretti to start the frame were followed by a bases-clearing double to center field from junior catcher
Kim Fryer (East Stroudsburg, Pa./East Stroudsburg South). A single and stolen base by junior right fielder
Nicole Fryer (East Stroudsburg, Pa./East Stroudsburg South) led to a Pellios RBI-single to right, handing William Paterson a 4-3 edge.
Senior designated player Melanie Walling's two-run home run coupled with three straight base hits, the last by Brennan, made it a 6-4 Ramapo lead after five innings.
Podmajersky led off the top of the seventh with an infield single and moved to second on a groundout. An error put Lutas aboard and advanced Podmajersky to third base, and Lutas later ran to second. A groundout led to a
Kim Fryer run-scoring base hit to right field that pulled the Pioneers to within one, but a final groundout ended the game.
Kim Fryer was 2-for-4 with a double, four RBI and run scored.
Junior
Gabrielle Castelli (Cedar Grove, N.J./Cedar Grove) pitched the first 4.2 innings, allowing six runs on 10 hits and two walks, striking out four (7-4). Podmajersky tossed the final 1.1 innings and gave up two hits while registering a strikeout.
Walling finished 2-for-3 with a two-run homer, and Saporito had a pair of RBI.
Sophomore Christina Brizek improved to 9-3, giving up five runs (four earned) on eight hits.
William Paterson will host New Jersey City for a conference doubleheader Tuesday, April 19, at 3:00 p.m.
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