Video Highlights 

WAYNE, N.J. – The No. 20 William Paterson softball team (26-8, 14-2 NJAC) clinched a top-three seed, and with it a home New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) Tournament home game, thanks to a 2-0, 6-0 Senior Day sweep of Rutgers-Camden (13-21, 5-11 NJAC) April 27.
 
WP, now second in the league standings, will host a first-round game Tuesday, May 2, at 4:00 p.m. against an opponent to be determined. Kean will host the remainder of the double-elimination tourney Friday-Sunday, May 5-7.
                                          
Game One
A pair of early runs lifted the Pioneers to an opening 2-0 victory.
 
A double off the left-field fence by senior shortstop Rachel Wasilak (Livingston, N.J./Livingston) and a triple to right-center by sophomore third baseman Christine Griffith (Upper Saddle River, N.J./Northern Highlands Regional) handed WP a 1-0 edge after one inning.
 
The Pioneers doubled their advantage during the home half of the third when freshman designated player Vanessa Archibold (Saddle Brook, N.J./Saddle Brook) led off with a grounder for a base hit in the hole on the left side of the infield, stole second, moved to third on a Wasilak groundout and scored when junior left fielder Kara Molnar (Jackson, N.J./Jackson Memorial) singled through the right side.
 
The Scarlet Raptors threatened when a single, error, sacrifice and walk loaded the bases with two outs in the sixth. Senior Gabrielle Castelli (Cedar Grove, N.J./Cedar Grove) was able to get a fly ball to right field to end the frame and keep Rutgers-Camden off the scoreboard.
 
Five different Pioneers each had a hit, and Griffith and Molnar provided the RBI. Castelli (15-2) gave up three singles back through the box, walking one and striking out three during the complete-game effort.
 
Sophomore Jessica Thompson allowed two runs on five hits and three walks, posting one strikeout (8-13).
 
Game Two
The Pioneers jumped out to an early lead and never looked back, finishing the day with a 6-0 victory.
 
WP got on the board during its first at-bat. Senior right fielder Nicole Fryer (East Stroudsburg, Pa./East Stroudsburg South) singled up the middle and was sacrificed to second by Archibold before Wasilak drilled a grounder past the second baseman for the game's first run. Griffith followed with her fifth home run of the year, a two-run shot to left, for a 3-0 edge.
 
Senior first baseman Salina Pellios (Middlesex, N.J./Middlesex) hit a one-out single to left field and junior center fielder Eleni Lutas (Pompton Plains, N.J./Pequannock) followed with a base hit that was misplayed by the center fielder, allowing Pellios to come all the way around and touch home for a 4-0 score after two innings.
 
The Pioneers added two more in the fifth when Lutas was hit by a pitch, Nicole Fryer walked, Archibold sacrificed and Griffith knocked a two-run single into left field.
 
Griffith finished 2-for-4 with a homer and four RBI, while Wasilak went 1-for-3 while scoring once and driving in a run.
 
Senior Allison Podmajersky (Red Bank, N.J./Middletown South) scattered five hits over 7.0 innings, striking out nine and walking two (9-6).
 
Junior second baseman Mariah Hans finished 2-for-3 with a double for the Scarlet Raptors. Sophomore Dannie Dinsfriend fell to 1-4 after allowing six runs (five earned) on six hits and two walks during 5.0 innings of work.
 
After the twin bill, WP honored seniors Castelli, Kim Fryer (East Stroudsburg, Pa./East Stroudsburg South), Nicole Fryer, Pellios, Podmajersky and Wasilak.
 
William Paterson will finish the regular season Saturday, April 29, with a doubleheader at New Jersey City at 1:00 p.m.
           
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