MADISON, N.J.  – Seven unanswered runs in game two of a doubleheader sweep at Drew helped the William Paterson softball team (13-5) take two from the Rangers (7-10), 12-0 and 8-6, March 27.
 
Game One: WP 12, Drew 0 (5 inn.)
 
WP poured on 15 hits to score in all five innings, including a seven-run second inning as it secured game one with ease.
 
Junior third baseman Christine Griffith (Upper Saddle River, N.J./Northern Highlands Regional) drove in senior center fielder Eleni Lutas (Pompton Plains, N.J./Pequannock) with a sacrifice fly to give the Pioneers a 1-0 lead in the first, warming up WP's bats.
 
The first five batters of the Pioneer second reached on hits, including a two-run home run from freshman designated player Caitlyn Massaro (Madison, N.J./Madison). Four straight Pioneer batters would bring in at least one RBI to make it 8-0. Griffith struck again, connecting for a bases loaded RBI single to center field, playing sophomore first baseman Susan Mather (North Andover, Mass./North Andover). Senior second baseman Adelle Hickman (Jackson, N.J./Jackson Liberty) scored freshman pitcher Sarah Byrnes (Cherry Hill, N.J./Camden Catholic) on a fielder's choice, freshman shortstop Sydney Pace (Kearny, N.J./Kearny) scored Lutas with an RBI single up the middle and senior left fielder Kara Molnar (Jackson, N.J./Jackson Memorial) plated Hickman on a single to left.
 
Lutas sparked the Pioneer offensive in the third with a leadoff single before scoring on a Hickman sacrifice fly. Two runs on three hits, one of which was a Molnar triple, and two errors made it 11-0 WP in the fourth inning. Molnar was also in the mix in the fifth, doubling and scoring on an RBI groundout from junior first baseman Karley Jo Greulich (Oakland, N.J./Indian Hills) to complete William Patersons' scoring.
 
Molnar was at the head of William Paterson's second five-inning victory of the year, coming up just a home run short of the cycle as she went 4-for-4 with three runs and one RBI. Massaro and Lutas both went 3-for-3 and combined for five runs.
 
Senior center fielder Heather Ronchi reached three times for Drew, going 2-for-2 with a walk.
 
Byrnes (7-3) picked up another win in the circle, fanning five while scattering two hits and a walk in 3.0 scoreless frames. Freshman hurler Caitlin Brennan (Boonton, N.J./Parsippany) worked around two walks and a pair of hits to spin 2.0 scoreless innings.
 
Taking the loss for the Rangers was junior Cara O'Leary (2-2), surrendering eight earned on eight hits and a free pass in 1.1 innings.
 
Game Two: WP 8, Drew 6
 
Drew broke a 1-1 tie in the second with three runs in the second and two in the third, generating a strong initial response in game two. Down 6-1 going into the top of the fourth inning, WP countered with seven unanswered runs to complete the comeback and bring the Pioneers' winning streak to nine games.
 
Griffith broke a 6-6 tie in the sixth with the eventual game-winning sacrifice fly, scoring Lutas, although WP's four-run fourth proved to be the pivotal juncture in the game, bringing WP within one run at 6-5.
 
Massaro led off the inning by reaching on an error, and with one out Byrnes singled and Lutas drove in junior pinch runner Xiomara Taylor (North Bergen, N.J./North Bergen) with an RBI single, making it 6-2. Sophomore right fielder Ryan Tighe (Wayne, N.J./Wayne Hills) flew out, although Griffith delivered a clutch two-RBI single to center, plating Lutas and Byrnes before advancing to second on the throw. Griffith used her feet to create WP's fifth run, reaching third on a wild pitch before scoring on a double steal.
 
Massaro's big day ensued in the next frame, tying the ball game at 6-6 with an RBI double to left center, scoring Pace who reached on an infield single a batter earlier. The aforementioned game winning run was set up by some small ball as Lutas led with a walk prior to swiping second base, moving to third on a Tighe sacrifice bunt and advancing the final 60 feet on Griffith's sacrifice fly. Mather roped an RBI triple to right center in the seventh for good measure, plating Molnar for the 8-6 upper hand.
 
Griffith provided three clutch RBI in her 2-for-3 outing in game two. Molnar went 2-for-4 with a triple and two runs, finishing the day 6-for-8. Massaro also went 2-for-4, doubling and driving in two as she bumped her average up to a sweltering .455.
 
Sophomore righty hurler Stephanie Burns launched a home run as part of a 3-for-4 game. Junior shortstop Katie Grodski drove in two, scored once, doubled and walked in a 2-for-3 game.
 
Byrnes (8-3) did not start but she provided a steadying performance in the come from behind victory, twirling a masterful 4.2 innings of scoreless relief. The rookie set down four by strikeout and only allowed four hits to earn her eighth win. Sophomore righty Andee Lupica (Maywood, N.J./Immaculate Conception) started and pitched one inning before being relieved by freshman Alexis Davidson (Hamilton, N.J./Nottingham) who pitched into the third with 1.1 innings of work. Both allowed three runs, one earned, after being snake bitten by a few Pioneer errors.
 
Burns (3-4) allowed 12 hits and two walks, although five Drew errors hurt the rookie who allowed eight runs, four earned, in the complete-game loss.
 
Softball opens New Jersey Athletic Conference competition when it hosts a doubleheader against Stockton Friday, March 30 at 3:00 p.m.
 
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