KISSIMMEE, Fla.  – William Paterson softball (9-5) saw its bats erupt as the Pioneers notched their fifth-straight victory by downing Plattsburgh State, 10-3, and Springfield, 9-1,  Mar. 15.
 
Game One: WP 10, Plattsburgh State 3
 
WP scored three runs in three different innings to post its second-straight game of double-digit runs during a 10-3 triumph against the Cardinals (3-6). WP's middle-infield duo of freshman shortstop Sydney Pace (Kearny, N.J./Kearny) and senior second baseman Adelle Hickman (Jackson, N.J./Jackson Liberty) provided a huge lift, combining for seven RBI, two runs and four hits.
 
Pace put WP ahead 1-0 in the top of the first with an RBI single, scoring junior third baseman Christine Griffith (Upper Saddle River, N.J./Northern Highlands Regional) after she blistered a triple to right field.
 
The 1-0 lead ballooned to 4-0 in the top of the second. Freshman designated player Cailtyn Massaro lined a single to left, senior left fielder Kara Molnar (Jackson, N.J./Jackson Memorial) walked and Hickman singled to center field, filling the bases. Freshman catcher Alexis Davis (Delanco, N.J./Riverside) grounded to Plattsburgh State senior starting pitcher Katie Pitkin, who threw home, although Plattsburgh junior catcher Anna Fisher failed to keep her foot on home, allowing all runners to advance safely. Sophomore right fielder Ryan Tighe (Wayne, N.J./Wayne Hills) made it 3-0 with an RBI walk and Griffith was hit by a pitch, scoring Hickman.
 
With a 4-0 cushion, rookie starter Sarah Byrnes (Cherry Hill, N.J./Camden Catholic) settled in, working around four Cardinals singles through four innings to maintain the 4-0 advantage going into the top of the fifth. Pace drove in Tighe and Griffith with a single and later scored on a Hickman sacrifice fly to right field, making it 8-0 going into the middle of the fifth.
 
Plattsburgh State evaded a five-inning loss by plating one in the fifth inning. Junior shortstop Kaitlyn Preiss led off the frame with a single and was brought home by an RBI single off the bat of senior pitcher Taylor Smith.
 
Hickman completed the Orange and Black's scoring with a bases-clearing double in the top of the seventh, plating junior pinch hitter Karley Jo Greulich (Oakland, N.J./Indian Hills), Massaro and Molnar.
 
The Cardinals scrapped across two runs in the bottom of the seventh, although Byrnes (5-3) closed the door to pick up her fifth win and fifth complete game of the season. All told, the Cherry Hill, N.J., native allowed three runs, two earned, on nine hits and one walk while fanning three. She possesses a 35-8 strikeout-to-walk ratio over eight appearances this year.
 
Pitkin (1-4) suffered the loss, giving up seven runs, two earned, on six hits and four free passes in 4.0 innings. Smith finished the final three innings in relief, twirling one strikeout while permitting three earned runs on six hits.
 
Pace went 2-for-4 with three RBI and a run, Hickman brought in four and scored once following a 2-for-3 day, and Massaro put up a 2-for-3 day with two runs. Massaro is now hitting a robust .421 on the season. Griffith and Molnar would score two runs apiece.
 
Junior first baseman Jennifer Groat scored once and went 3-for-3 to lead Plattsburgh State.
 
Game Two: WP 9, Springfield 1 (Six Innings)

Freshman righty Alexis Davidson (Hamilton, N.J./Nottingham) and Byrnes combined to pitch one-run ball over six innings as the WP lineup provided four runs in the fourth and sixth inning en route to a 9-1 win against the Pride (7-1), handing Springfield its first loss of the season.
 
A four-run two-out rally in the bottom of the fourth proved to be the difference, helping WP break a 1-1 stalemate and create a 5-1 advantage. With senior center fielder Eleni Lutas (Pompton Plains, N.J./Pequannock) at second and junior pinch runner Xiomara Taylor (North Bergen, N.J./North Bergen) at third, Tighe clubbed a two-RBI single up the middle before being plated by an RBI double courtesy of Griffith. Pace found space in left for an RBI single to finish the frame, scoring Griffith from second.
 
Up 5-1 in the bottom of the sixth, Tighe clubbed an RBI double, Griffith drove in Tighe with an RBI single through the right side and Hickman ended things with a two-run home to left field.
 
Senior first baseman Kirsten Drobiak hit a solo home run in the top of the first as Springfield drew first blood, although Drobiak committed an error off the bat of sophomore first baseman Susan Mather (North Andover, Mass./North Andover), scoring Hickman to tie it at one in the bottom of the second.
 
Davidson (3-0) quieted Springfield's offense over the next three innings, scattering five singles and two walks to earn the victory in 4.0 frames of work. Byrnes came on with one on and out out in the fifth, allowing just one base runner in 2.0 scoreless innings.
 
Senior hurler Talia Loda (3-1) was tagged for eight runs, seven earned, on 10 hits and two walks while striking out two in 5.1 innings. Sophomore righty Marisa Valenti recorded one out in relief.
 
Tighe, Griffith, Hickman and Molnar combined to go 9-for-15 with nine RBI. Hickman finished the day going a combined 4-for-7 with six RBI.
 
Sophomore shortstop Alexyss Conley and senior center fielder Carianna Gasdia both went 2-for-3.
 
WP has an off day Friday, Mar. 16 before finishing up play at the Sunkissed Games when it takes on Salve Regina at 9:00 a.m. and Skidmore at 11:15 a.m. Saturday, Mar. 17.
 
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