KISSIMMEE, FLA. – The William Paterson softball team (3-3) suffered a pair of losses March 13 at the Rebel Spring Games, falling 8-2 to No. 12 Trine (8-0), and 6-4 to Illinois Wesleyan (3-0).
Game One
A four-run third inning allowed the Thunder to pull away for an 8-2 win.
Trine scored a single run during the bottom of the first inning as junior center fielder Erica Robles led off with a base hit to center field, stole second and crossed the plate when freshman designated player Nicole Ferraro singled to left center.
WP got the run back in the top of the second as junior shortstop
Kaitlyn Poretti (Florence, N.J./Florence Memorial) hit a one-out single down the left-field line, ending up on third base after an error, and junior left fielder
Kara Molnar (Jackson, N.J./Jackson Memorial) tripled to left.
The Thunder seized a 5-1 advantage during the bottom of the third. A Robles base hit, Makenna Hartline walk and an error scored one run, followed by an RBI-single down the left-field line by junior first baseman Kaylee Fox. Freshman shortstop Carly Bachna hit a sacrifice fly to right, and Catherine Porter's base hit to center field plated the final run.
Sophomore third baseman
Karley Jo Greulich (Oakland, N.J./Indian Hills) hit a single through the left side and senior first baseman
Salina Pellios (Middlesex, N.J./Middlesex) doubled to right center before a Poretti groundout added a WP run in the top of the sixth.
Trine tacked on three more runs during the home half of the same inning, taking advantage of a Hartline base hit, Ferraro double, Fox sac fly and Bachna solo homer.
Poretti was 2-for-3 at the plate, driving in a run and scoring once herself.
Senior
Allison Podmajersky (Red Bank, N.J./Middletown South) started and pitched 2.2 innings, giving up six hits and five runs (two earned) with two walks and a pair of strikeouts (1-2). Classmate
Gabrielle Castelli (Cedar Grove, N.J./Cedar Grove) retired the only batter she faced, and freshman
Andee Lupica (Maywood, N.J./Immaculate Conception) allowed three runs on three hits and two walks over 3.0 innings, striking out one.
Ferraro, Fox and Bachna each supplied a pair of RBI for Trine. Freshman Danielle Ray (4-0) gave up seven hits and two runs, finishing with seven strikeouts during the complete-game effort.
Game Two
Illinois Wesleyan scored three times during the top of the seventh inning for a 6-4 victory.
The Pioneers opened the scoring with a pair of runs during the bottom of the first inning. Freshman designated player
Vanessa Archibold (Saddle Brook, N.J./Saddle Brook) hit a one-out single, stole second and advanced to third on a passed ball before Pellios was issued a base on balls. Greulich hit an RBI-single, and a wild pitch and Poretti walk loaded the bases. Molnar's groundout then plated Pellios and handed WP a 2-0 edge.
A leadoff error, sacrifice and groundout allowed junior catcher Amanda Lack to get the Titans on the scoreboard with a run-scoring single up the middle in the third.
WP made it a 3-1 margin during the home half of the third thanks to a Poretti base hit and Molnar triple.
A two-out walk, stolen base and Summer Stitt single resulted in an Illinois Wesleyan run in the fifth.
With two outs in the bottom of the fifth, Poretti and Molnar both came up with base hits and freshman
Amanda Clark (Philadelphia, Pa./Saint Basil Academy) delivered a pinch-hit single to hand the Pioneers a 4-2 advantage.
The Titans crossed the plate once in the sixth, using a Sam Berghoff leadoff single, groundout, fielder's choice and Sarah Platt two-out base hit.
Illinois Wesleyan took the lead during its final at-bat. Stitt hit a one-out single through the left side and Lack sent a base hit through the right side of the infield. Berghoff tied the game with an RBI-single, and run-scoring base hits from junior right fielder Maggie Graham and sophomore third baseman Julie Josten made it a 6-4 margin.
Molnar finished 3-for-4 with a triple and two RBI, while senior right fielder
Nicole Fryer (East Stroudsburg, Pa./East Stroudsburg South) was 3-for-4. Poretti and Greulich each notched a pair of hits.
Castelli pitched the first 5.2 innings, giving up three runs (two earned) on five hits and one walk, striking out seven. Podmajersky (1-3) allowed five hits and three runs in 1.1 innings inside the circle while posting one strikeout.
Stitt, Lack, Berghoff and Graham each had two hits and one RBI for the Titans. Sophomore reliever Taylor Marvin earned the win (2-0), scattering four hits over 2.1 scoreless innings.
William Paterson will face Carroll at 1:30 p.m. and Illinois College at 3:45 p.m. on Wednesday, March 15, at the Rebel Spring Games.
For all of the latest information on the Pioneers, visit
http://www.wpupioneers.com and
http://www.wpupioneers.com/socialmedia.
