EWING, N.J. – The William Paterson softball team (14-4, 0-2 NJAC) started New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) play with 4-2 and 3-1 defeats at The College of New Jersey (15-8, 2-0 NJAC) April 2.
 
Game One
The Pioneers took the early lead before the Lions rallied for a 4-2 win.
 
Junior right fielder Nicole Fryer (East Stroudsburg, Pa./East Stroudsburg South) opened the contest with a single to short, sophomore second baseman Kaitlyn Poretti (Florence, N.J./Florence Memorial) had a base hit into left field and junior shortstop Rachel Wasilak (Livingston, N.J./Livingston) was issued a walk to load the bases with one out in the top of the first, and an error allowed Nicole Fryer and Poretti to cross the plate for a 2-0 lead.
 
Two singles and a sacrifice led to a two-out, two-run base hit by freshman center fielder Gaby Bennett that tied the score at 2-2 during the home half of the third.
 
A pair of base hits left runners on the corners with two outs in the bottom of the sixth, and senior catcher Jamie Purcell's double to left center pushed TCNJ ahead by a 4-2 count.
 
Poretti and Nicole Fryer were both 1-for-3 with a run scored. Junior pitcher Allison Podmajersky (Red Bank, N.J./Middletown South) fell to 9-2 after allowing four runs on seven hits while striking out seven.
 
Bennett went 3-for-3 with two RBI and a run scored for the Lions. Senior Katie Hourihan (4-2) gave up two unearned runs, three hits and five walks over 6.0 innings, posting four strikeouts. Senior Ashtin Helmer picked up her second save with 1.0 inning of perfect relief.
 
Game Two
The Lions scored the first three runs of a 3-1 decision.
 
A two-out base hit, stolen base and Madison Levine RBI-single to right made it a 1-0 TCNJ lead during the bottom of the first inning.
 
TCNJ opened the third with a leadoff base hit, bunt single and throwing error to push its lead to 2-0, and the Lions added a walk, steal and single to left to extend it to 3-0 by the end of the frame.
 
WP got one run back during the top of the sixth thanks to consecutive base hits by sophomore center fielder Eleni Lutas (Pompton Plains, N.J./Pequannock) and Wasilak, a groundout and an RBI-single to center field by freshman third baseman Karley Jo Greulich (Oakland, N.J./Indian Hills).
 
Wasilak was 3-for-3 at the plate for the Pioneers. Junior Gabrielle Castelli (Cedar Grove, N.J./Cedar Grove) surrendered three runs (two earned), seven hits and three walks while striking out three in 3.0 innings (5-2). Podmajersky tossed the final 3.0 hitless innings and registered three strikeouts.
 
Bennett was 2-for-3 and scored a pair of runs. Sophomore Sam Platt (8-2) gave up one run on five hits and a walk, striking out two in 6.0 innings. Helmer was credited with the save after 1.0 inning of relief, striking out one.
 
William Paterson will host Montclair State for a doubleheader Tuesday, April 5, at 3:00 p.m.
 
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