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WAYNE, N.J. – William Paterson (20-6, 10-0 NJAC) stayed in first place in the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) softball standings with a 2-1 and 4-0 sweep of No. 14 Kean (21-5, 6-4 NJAC) April 14.
 
Game One
The Pioneers left 12 runners on base, but were able to finally take advantage of an opportunity to push across the winning run, taking the opener by a 2-1 count.
 
Each team struck for a single run during the first inning. The Cougars used a leadoff single through the left side and stolen base by sophomore right fielder Caroline Ratti, an Emily Sabo sacrifice bunt and a short Dana Knapp double down the right-field line.
 
Senior right fielder Nicole Fryer (East Stroudsburg, Pa./East Stroudsburg South) opened the bottom of the first inning with a triple to left and freshman designated player Vanessa Archibold (Saddle Brook, N.J./Saddle Brook) followed with a base hit up the middle. The attempted double steal was unsuccessful, resulting in an out at the plate, but a groundout by senior shortstop Rachel Wasilak (Livingston, N.J./Livingston) advanced Archibold to third base. Sophomore third baseman Christine Griffith (Upper Saddle River, N.J./Northern Highlands Regional) then evened the score with her RBI-double to the left-field fence.
 
WP had the bases loaded with one out in the second and zero outs in the fifth, but could not come up with the go-ahead run. The Pioneers also had runners on the corners with no one out during the bottom of the sixth, but a lineout and a double play ended the frame.
 
Kean had its best chance in the top of the sixth with runners on first and second and one out, but senior Gabrielle Castelli (Cedar Grove, N.J./Cedar Grove) got two groundball outs to keep it a 1-1 game.
 
Wasilak started the home half of the seventh with a base hit to left, and Griffith lined a pitch to straightaway center. The fielder dove forward in an attempt to make the catch, but the ball got under her glove and behind her, a play that left Wasilak standing on third base and Griffith on second. Junior left fielder Kara Molnar (Jackson, N.J./Jackson Memorial) hit a ground ball straight back to the circle and Wasilak broke towards home, forcing a throw to the plate. She managed to slide under the tag to score the winning run in walk-off fashion.
 
Griffith finished 2-for-3 with a pair of doubles and an RBI, while Wasilak was 2-for-3, hit a double and scored a run. Senior catcher Kim Fryer (East Stroudsburg, Pa./East Stroudsburg South) went 3-for-3, and Archibold contributed a pair of hits.
 
Castelli (12-1) scattered six hits over 7.0 innings, giving up one run while striking out four.
 
Sabo went 2-for-3 and hit a double for the Cougars. Senior Shannon McMahon suffered her first loss of the season after surrendering two runs on 11 hits and a pair of walks, posting three strikeouts (12-1).
 
Game Two
The Pioneers finished off the sweep with a 4-0 victory.
 
Once again, Nicole Fryer started the bottom of the first with a triple to left field, and two batters later Wasilak hit a line drive to deep center field for a sacrifice fly and a 1-0 advantage.
 
WP made it 2-0 in the second. Kim Fryer drilled a double a foot inside the left-field line, and three hitters later her twin sister Nicole sent an RBI-single to center field.
 
Junior second baseman Kaitlyn Poretti (Florence, N.J./Florence Memorial) reached second thanks to a base hit and an error to open the fourth inning. Junior pinch hitter Adelle Hickman (Jackson, N.J./Jackson Liberty) singled through the left side of the infield for a 3-0 edge.
 
Griffith launched a deep home run into the batting cages beyond the left-field fence, a solo shot that pushed it to a 4-0 score during the bottom half of the fifth single.
 
Nicole Fryer finished 3-for-4 while belting a double and triple, scoring a run and driving one in. Poretti went 2-for-3 and crossed the plate once.
 
Senior Allison Podmajersky (Red Bank, N.J./Middletown South) improved to 6-5 with 7.0 four-hit innings. She struck out 10 without issuing a walk.
 
Four different Cougars collected hits. Freshman Taryn DiGiacomo fell to 9-4 after giving up four runs on eight hits and four walks with four strikeouts during 6.0 innings.
 
William Paterson will host Ramapo Tuesday, April 18, for a doubleheader beginning at 3:00 p.m. Retiring associate athletic director Cindy Cohen will throw out the ceremonial first pitch prior to the opening game, and an informal reception open to all members of the WP community will be held during the doubleheader.
           
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