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WAYNE, N.J. – Second-seeded and 20th-ranked William Paterson (28-9, 15-3 NJAC) opened postseason play with a 6-3 victory against fifth-seeded Stockton (21-19-1, 9-8-1 NJAC) in the first round of the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) Softball Tournament May 2.
 
WP will face third-seeded Kean in the NJAC Tournament second round Friday, May 5, at 6:00 p.m. at Kean. The Cougars will host the remainder of the double-elimination tourney Saturday-Sunday, May 6-7.
 
A single up the middle and a fielder's choice left a runner on first with two outs during the top of the second inning for Stockton. An error on a sacrifice bunt attempt led to an Alexis Dunphy pinch-hit double to left-center field and a 2-0 Osprey advantage.
 
The Pioneers answered with a four-run third. Junior center fielder Eleni Lutas (Pompton Plains, N.J./Pequannock) led off with a base hit up the middle and was sacrificed to second by senior right fielder Nicole Fryer (East Stroudsburg, Pa./East Stroudsburg South). Freshman designated player Vanessa Archibold (Saddle Brook, N.J./Saddle Brook) followed with a single to center field and advanced to second base on the throw to third, putting two runners into scoring position for senior shortstop Rachel Wasilak (Livingston, N.J./Livingston). She delivered a two-RBI base hit to center, and sophomore third baseman Christine Griffith (Upper Saddle River, N.J./Northern Highlands Regional) promptly drilled a triple to left center for a 3-2 lead. A groundout to the right side of the infield by junior left fielder Kara Molnar (Jackson, N.J./Jackson Memorial) allowed Griffith to slide across home plate, and WP owned a 4-2 edge.
 
Stockton had runners on second and third with one out in the fourth, but senior Allison Podmajersky (Red Bank, N.J./Middletown South) was able to get a foul-out and popup to work out of the jam unscathed.
 
The Pioneers added two more during the bottom of the sixth inning as Molnar reached on a leadoff error, senior catcher Kim Fryer (East Stroudsburg, Pa./East Stroudsburg South) hit a one-out double to right center, freshman pinch hitter Alex Grubiak (Old Bridge, N.J./Old Bridge) came up with an RBI-groundout to the right side, and Lutas hit a run-scoring infield base hit.
 
The Ospreys tacked on a single run during their final at-bat thanks to a pair of doubles, but a ground out and fly ball ended their comeback hopes.
 
Wasilak finished 2-for-3 with two RBI and a run scored, while Lutas was 2-for-3 and added an RBI and run. Archibold contributed a pair of hits and crossed the plate once.
 
Podmajersky (11-6) allowed three runs (one earned) on six hits, striking out two over 7.0 innings.
 
Junior designated player Danielle Lugo went 2-for-3 for Stockton and Dunphy hit a two-run double.
 
Sophomore starter Victoria Torp gave up seven hits and four runs during 2.2 innings of work (10-8), and junior Hannah Bibeault tossed the final 3.1 innings and surrendered two unearned runs and three hits while tallying two strikeouts.
 
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