EWING, N.J.  – Sixth-seeded William Paterson softball had a tough challenge to face in the opening round of the 2018 New Jersey Athletic Conference Tournament, falling at top-seeded No. 25 The College of the New Jersey, 6-1, May 1.
 
The Pioneers (23-14) will face second-seeded No. 18 Rowan (28-10-1) in an elimination game Friday, May 4 at 2:00 p.m. Friday's game, along with the remainder of the tournament schedule, will be played at Montclair State University.

William Paterson students presenting a valid student ID will be admitted for free. General admission is $5.00, and students, senior citizens and children 12 and under will be admitted for $2.00. 
 
NJAC Tournament Central
 
The Pioneers have not been shut out all season and evaded such fate again Tuesday, but
the Lions (29-6) quietly amassed six runs and freshman hurler Alanna Namit (15-0) kept her record without blemish as WP fell in the tournament opener.
 
The Lions started to separate themselves by taking a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Sophomore second baseman Annalise Suitovsky and sophomore shortstop Megan Mayernik both reached on singles, moved up a base on a passed ball before scoring on an RBI groundout and sacrifice fly.
 
TCNJ managed to scrap out three runs on only two singles and a fielder's choice in the bottom of the third, taking a 5-0 lead. The Lions lead the league in sacrifice bunts and used another to move freshman left fielder Allie Immerso to second after her leadoff single. Mayernik struck out swinging, but a wild pitch on the punch out put runners at the corners. A fielder's choice that failed to garner an out aused all runners to be safe, putting TCNJ up 3-0. An RBI single followed by another sacrifice fly completed the three-run frame.
 
WP had its best scoring opportunity in the top of the fourth, scoring once while leaving runners at the corners. Sophomore right fielder Ryan Tighe (Wayne, N.J./Wayne Hills) was hit by a pitch and advanced to second on classmate Andee Lupica (Maywood, N.J./Immaculate Conception)'s single to left field. Hickman has frequently gone to right field this season and did so again, driving in Tighe with a single down the right field line.
 
WP could only work two hits the rest of the way via senior left fielder Kara Molnar (Jackson, N.J./Jackson Memorial)'s double and a single from Lupica as the Lions tacked on one more run with an Immerso RBI single in the sixth, closing up the contest.
 
While spinning nearly fifty innings in the circle, not to be lost in the shuffle is Lupica's bat as she went 2-for-3 Tuesday. This week she is hitting .470 (8-for-17). Hickman had a hit and an RBI and Molnar had the game's lone extra-base hit. WP didn't walk in the contest, making it only time this season it hasn't walked in consecutive games.
 
Mayernik and Immerso led the Lions, going 2-for-3, while senior Madison Levine and freshman Lauren Conroy both drove in a pair of runs.
 
The NJAC-wins leader, rookie righty Sarah Byrnes (Cherry Hill, N.J./Camden Catholic) (16-6), suffered the loss. She worked a complete game, permitting six runs, five earned, on eight singles. She fanned one, giving her nine-straight appearances with at least one strikeout.
 
Namit was efficient, facing 25 batters in the 7.0 complete game. The rookie struck out six, hit one batter, allowed four hits and permitted one earned run.
 
For all of the latest information on the Pioneers, visit http://www.wpupioneers.com and http://www.wpupioneers.com/socialmedia.