GLASSBORO, N.J. – Senior
Allison Podmajersky (Red Bank, N.J./Middletown South) became the Pioneers' career strikeouts leader and the No. 18 William Paterson softball team (24-8, 12-2 NJAC) swept host No. 5 Rowan (29-5, 10-4 NJAC), 3-2 and 7-3 in eight innings, April 23.
WP, now second in the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) standings, also secured one of the six spots for the upcoming NJAC Tournament that begins Tuesday, May 2.
Game One
The Pioneers built a 3-0 lead and shut down the Profs late for an opening 3-2 victory.
WP crossed the plate twice during the top of the third inning. Junior second baseman
Kaitlyn Poretti (Florence, N.J./Florence Memorial) was issued a leadoff walk and was replaced by freshman pinch runner
Ryan Tighe (Wayne, N.J./Wayne Hills), followed by an error on a sacrifice bunt that put senior center fielder
Eleni Lutas (Pompton Plains, N.J./Pequannock) aboard. After a popup and strikeout, senior shortstop
Rachel Wasilak (Livingston, N.J./Livingston) hit a two-run double to right center.
Junior left fielder
Kara Molnar (Jackson, N.J./Jackson Memorial) opened the fourth with a solo home run to right, making it a 3-0 lead.
A base hit, double, error and RBI-single allowed Rowan to push across a pair of runs during the home half of the fourth.
Senior pitcher
Gabrielle Castelli (Cedar Grove, N.J./Cedar Grove) sat down 10 of the next 11 Prof batters to preserve the win.
Wasilak was 1-for-2 at the plate with a double and two RBI.
Castelli (14-2) scattered six hits over 7.0 innings, striking out one without issuing a walk.
Sophomore center fielder Gianna Genello went 3-for-3 for Rowan. Freshman Lauren Shannon (14-1) allowed three runs (one earned) on five hits and two walks, posting five strikeouts during 7.0 innings inside the circle.
Game Two
Knotted at 1-1 after seven innings, William Paterson exploded for six runs during the top of the eighth en route to a closing 7-3 win.
Molnar led off the fifth with a base hit to center field, was sacrificed to second by Poretti and scored when senior catcher
Kim Fryer (East Stroudsburg, Pa./East Stroudsburg South) singled and Rowan committed an error on the play.
A bases-loaded, two-out infield single allowed the Profs to even the score at 1-1 during the bottom of the fifth inning.
Senior first baseman
Salina Pellios (Middlesex, N.J./Middlesex) was placed on second base to start the top of the eighth and was lifted for freshman pinch runner
Lexi Reale (Smithtown, N.Y./St. Anthony's).
Kim Fryer sacrificed her to third, and walks by junior pinch hitter
Adelle Hickman (Jackson, N.J./Jackson Liberty) and senior right fielder
Nicole Fryer (East Stroudsburg, Pa./East Stroudsburg South) loaded the bags. Freshman designated player
Vanessa Archibold (Saddle Brook, N.J./Saddle Brook) forced across the go-ahead run when she drew a base on balls, and Wasilak singled to left field for a 3-1 score. Sophomore third baseman
Christine Griffith (Upper Saddle River, N.J./Northern Highlands Regional) then hit a blast over the left-field fence, her first career grand slam for a 7-1 advantage.
A two-out RBI-double and RBI-single for Rowan finished the scoring during the bottom half of the eighth.
Griffith was 2-for-4 with a grand slam, while Wasilak went 2-for-4 with an RBI and run scored.
With her second strikeout of the game, recorded during the second inning, Podmajersky broke WP's career strikeouts record of 424 set by Jenn Scott (2003-06). Podmajersky finished with seven punchouts to bring her total to 430, and surrendered three runs (one earned) on seven hits during the complete-game effort (8-6).
Sophomore shortstop Carly Anderson finished 2-for-3 with a double and run scored for the Profs. Junior Ashley Lesch gave up seven runs (six earned) on nine hits and three walks while striking out one in 8.0 innings (5-2).
William Paterson will celebrate Senior Day Tuesday, April 25, when the Pioneers host Rutgers-Camden for a doubleheader beginning at 3:00 p.m.
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