MAHWAH, N.J.  – Freshman Caitlyn Massaro (Madison, N.J./Madison) set a career high with four of WP's 12 hits in a dominant 6-1 victory, although the 25th nationally ranked Pioneer softball team (20-12, 7-7 NJAC) couldn't overcome a five-run Ramapo (16-10, 5-5 NJAC) fourth inning in game two, falling 5-1 to split a road doubleheader April 22.
 
Game One | WP 6, Ramapo 1
 
WP outpaced the Roadrunners the entire way in game on as Byrnes was dominant, only allowing one unearned run in front of Pioneer bats that pounded out 12 singles to take the game, 6-1.
 
Massaro singled in four different innings, and in each of those four frames the Pioneers scored. Massaro led off WP's second inning en route to a 1-0 lead, singling up the middle before being ran for by junior Xiomara Taylor (North Bergen, N.J./North Bergen). Sophomore designated player Vanessa Archibold (Saddle Brook, N.J./Saddle Brook) drew a walk, pushing Taylor to second before senior center fielder Eleni Lutas (Pompton Plains, N.J./Pequannock) pulled an RBI single inside the right field line.
 
WP went ahead 3-0 after the third, and Massaro was in the middle of it again. After junior third baseman Christine Griffith (Upper Saddle River, N.J./Northern Highlands Regional) walked and stole second, Massaro poked an RBI-base hit up the middle, scoring Griffith. The single parade continued with an infield base knock by freshman shortstop Sydney Pace (Kearny, N.J./Kearny) and an RBI two-out single to left from rookie catcher Alexis Davis (Delanco, N.J./Riverside).
 
Three singles was the formula again in the fourth as sophomore right fielder Ryan Tighe (Wayne, N.J./Wayne Hills) and senior left fielder Kara Molnar (Jackson, N.J./Jackson Memorial) both reached on singles to lead off the fourth before Massaro roped another to centerfield, driving in two for the 5-0 upperhand.
 
Byrnes had a no-hitter going at this point, allowing her first base hit in the bottom of the fourth. The Roadrunners clawed out their only run on back-to-back fielding errors in the fifth as WP held a comfortable 5-1 lead.
 
Molnar was hit by a pitch to start the sixth, reached third on a single sliced down left field line off Massaro's bat and eventually scored on a Pace base knock to left.
 
Up 6-1 in the bottom of the sixth, Byrnes worked around two singles and a double over the final two innings to secure her 10th complete game of the season with only 76 pitches. It was her most efficient effort in a 7.0 frame performance this season as she pitched herself to 112 innings on the season, allowing only five hits and one walk while fanning one Ramapo batter.
 
Massaro's 4-for-4 day led all batters and set a new career high, helping her drive in three runs to tie her best mark. Pace, Tighe and Lutas each had two hits apiece and Molnar scored twice.
 
Sophomore first baseman Jackie Howarth led Ramapo by going 2-for-4 with a double and freshman right fielder Carli Egan scored the Roadrunner's only run.
 
Taking the loss was junior hurler Erin Fitzsimmons (2-4), giving up three earned runs on five hits and four walks while fanning four. Senior righty Christina Brizek pitched 4.1 frames in relief, allowing another three earned runs on seven hits and one walk while punching out a batter.
 
Game Two | Ramapo 5, WP 1
 
Ramapo's five-run fourth inning was the difference as the Roadrunners salvaged a split with a 5-1 triumph in game two.
 
WP has yet to be shut out this season and evaded such an outcome by making things interesting in the top of the seventh. Griffith tripled to right field with one out and scored on Massaro's fifth single on the day, an RBI knock back up the box. Sophomore second baseman Lexi Reale (Smithtown, N.Y./St. Anthony's) followed with a single to center, putting runners at first and second. Pace reached on a five-to-four fielder's choice and Davis fouled out for the final out though, ending the threat with the tying run on deck.
 
Ramapo's big fourth inning broke an early pitcher's duel. A leadoff bunt single by senior catcher Shannon Cox followed by a groundout and an RBI single by freshman left fielder Krista Verrino gave Ramapo the 1-0 lead. A throwing error and another single pushed sophomore starter Andee Lupica (Maywood, N.J./Immaculate Conception) from the game as WP went to Byrnes. Byrnes promptly coaxed a pop out, but Howarth drove a two-RBI single to left that turned into a four-run play. A pair of errant throws allowed the remaining runner on base and Howarth to score, making it 5-0 Ramapo.
 
The Roadrunners' senior righty Katrina Buczkowski (8-1) didn't fan a batter all day but went the rest of the way to earn the complete game victory, allowing five hits and two walks.
 
Three of the four runs charged to Lupica (2-4) were unearned as she took the loss after 3.1 innings of work, permitting six hits. Byrnes spun 2.2 innings in relief, striking out a batter while allowing an unearned run on three hits.
 
Griffith pestered Buczkowski all afternoon, going 3-for-3 with two singles, a triple, a run and a stolen base in her 13th multi-hit performance of the season.
 
Howarth also had three hits, going 3-for-4 with two RBI and a run, finishing the twin bill 5-for-8 overall.
 
The Pioneers stand tied for fifth in the New Jersey Athletic Conference standings going into the final week of regular season play. WP will stay on the road when it takes on Rutgers-Camden in a doubleheader Tuesday, April 24 at 3:00 p.m.
 
For all of the latest information on the Pioneers, visit http://www.wpupioneers.com and http://www.wpupioneers.com/socialmedia.