Video Highlights

WAYNE, N.J.  – Senior second baseman Adelle Hickman (Jackson, N.J./Jackson Liberty) laced a walk-off RBI single to give William Paterson softball (14-6, 1-1 NJAC)  a 4-3 victory in extra innings during game one, although a four-run third inning from Stockton (11-7, 1-1 NJAC) allowed the Ospreys to win game two, 6-2, ending WP's winning streak at 10 games.
 
Game One: WP 4, Stockton 3 (8 innings, international tiebreaker)
 
WP is making a habit of extra-inning competition this season, playing in its fourth game decided by international tiebreaker. The Pioneers pulled this one out, giving WP it's 10th consecutive victory and a 1-0 start to New Jersey Athletic Conference play.
 
The Pioneers held a 3-0 advantage heading into the top of the seventh and pushed Stockton to its last strike, although a three-run double to right centerfield off the bat of sophomore pinch hitter Nicole Petrovich tied the contest at three.
 
Neither team scored in their ensuing at bats, although Hickman, who gave WP its first RBI on the day, bookended game one by scoring sophomore pinch runner Vanessa Archibold (Saddle Brook, N.J./Saddle Brook) from third on a single up the middle, providing the 4-3 win.
 
The scoring-heavy second half of the game saw a pitcher's duel for the first few innings as both teams took a 0-0 stalemate into the fourth. Hickman broke the tie with an RBI groundout in the bottom of the fourth, scoring senior left fielder Kara Molnar (Jackson, N.J./Jackson Memorial).
 
The Pioneers manufactured two more in the fifth to create some breathing room. Senior center fielder Eleni Lutas (Pompton Plains, N.J./Pequannock) led off the inning by reaching on an error, moved to second on a groundout from sophomore right fielder Ryan Tighe (Wayne, N.J./Wayne Hills) and reached third on a bullet off the bat of junior third baseman Christine Griffith (Upper Saddle River, N.J./Northern Highlands Regional) that was deflected off the mit of Stockton rookie pitcher Marisaa Semeraro. Freshman designated player Caitlyn Massaro (Madison, N.J./Madison) brought in Lutas with a sacrifice fly to center, and Molnar's carefully placed roller along the third baseline gave Griffith the green light to score WP's third run.
 
Freshman pitcher Sarah Byrnes (Cherry Hill, N.J./Camden Catholic) was strong yet again for WP, despite Stockton's three runs in the seventh, all of which were unearned. The righty rallied to spin a scoreless eighth, improving her record to 9-3 behind a six-strikeout effort. Byrnes held a no-hitter into the fourth and only allowed two hits.
 
Semeraro spun 4.2 innings in the no-decision, allowing three runs, one earned, on seven hits and a free pass while striking out one. Senior reliever Victoria Torp (1-2) allowed two hits and the game-winning run, charged as an unearned run, in 2.1 innings of work.
 
Molnar stole a base and ripped her third triple in as many games during a 3-for-4 game one. Griffith scored once, doubled and went 2-for-4.
 
Petrovich provided Stockton's lone extra-base hit, the three-run double in the seventh. Senior catcher Alexa Massa singled for the Osprey's only other hit.
 
Game Two: Stockton 6, WP 2
 
WP out hit Stockton, 10-9, although the Ospreys took advantage of some extra opportunities in its four-run third inning and stole five bases to edge the Pioneers in game two of the double dip.
 
Three consecutive singles, two steals and an error helped Stockton work a 2-0 lead in the third. Massa finished the inning with a two-out two-RBI single to left field, plating sophomore outfielder Meg Murzello and junior center fielder Carli Shaw for the 4-0 upper hand.
 
Molnar used some opposite field power to lift a double off the base of the wall in left, scoring a racing Archibold from first in the bottom of the fourth, cutting the deficit to 4-1.
 
Stockton was quick to respond though, widening its lead to 6-1 on a two-run home run from sophomore Alexandra Cosenzo to straight away left field in the top of the fifth.
 
The Pioneers showed some late life in the seventh, as three straight singles from Griffith, Archibold and Molnar made it 6-2. But, Stockton's Torp coaxed a game-ending ground out to second base to strand Pioneers at second and third.
 
Archibold reached in all three of her plate appearances, scoring once. Molnar went 2-for-4 with both of WP's RBI,Hickman tallied two hits and Griffith scored a run.
 
Murzello posted the Osprey's lone multi-hit game, going 2-for-4 with two runs and a stolen base in the two spot. Shaw also provided a spark at leadoff, going 1-for-2 with two walks, a run, one RBI, a stolen base and two walks.
 
Taking her first loss in the circle as a Pioneer was rookie righty Alexis Davidson (Hamilton, N.J./Nottingham) (3-1), allowing six runs, three earned, on nine hits and a pair of walks. Sophomore righty Andee Lupica (Maywood, N.J./Immaculate Conception) walked just one batter in 2.0 scoreless frames of relief.
 
Senior hurler Hannah Bibeault (6-1) worked seven groundouts in her 4.0 innings of one-run ball, allowing three hits and a walk to earn the win. Torp garnered the save in long relief, allowing one earned run while fanning one and scattering seven hits in 3.0 innings.
 
Softball continues with its six-game homestand with a doubleheader against Rutgers-Newark Tuesday, April 3. First pitch is set for 3:00 p.m.
 
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