KISSIMMEE, FLA. – After dropping a heart-breaking 2-1 pitching duel to UMASS Dartmouth in the opener, William Paterson softball (1-1) earned its first victory of the season, besting St. Joseph's–Brooklyn, 6-2, to earn a split on the first day of The Spring Games.
HOW IT HAPPENED VS UMASS DARTMOUTH:
- WP opened the scoring in its first at-bat when sophomore Caitlyn Massaro (Madison, N.J./Madison) singled through the right side, plating Emma Cooney (Livingston, N.J./Livingston) and giving the Pioneers a 1-0 lead.
- UMASS Dartmouth leveled the score in the top of the second on an RBI double. The Corsairs would score the eventual game-winning run in the same frame, as a Pioneers fielding error allowed Jill Richards to score from third.
- Stellar pitching by UMD stymied WP all afternoon, as the Pioneers were unable to break through, eventually falling 2-1.
- Junior righty Alex Grubiak (Old Bridge, N.J./Old Bridge) tossed a three-hit complete-game, allowing two runs while striking out two.
HOW IT HAPPENED VS ST. JOSEPH'S:
- After spotting St. Joseph's a 2-0 lead following four innings, WP's bats finally came alive. Singles by Ryan Tighe (Wayne, N.J./Wayne Hills), Lauren Naveo (Dumont, N.J./Dumont) and Cooney loaded the bases in the top of the fifth. With two outs, Massaro laced an RBI-single to center field that cleared the bases and gave the Pioneers a 3-2 advantage. Back-to-back RBI singles by Andee Lupica (Maywood, N.J./Immaculate Conception) and Sydney Pace (Kearny, N.J./Kearny) extended the lead to 5-2.
- Vanessa Archibold (Saddle Brook, N.J./Saddle Brook) singled, stole second and scored the game's final run when Christine Griffith (Upper Saddle River, N.J./Northern Highlands Regional) executed a perfect sac bunt in the top of the seventh.
- Following a shaky start to the game, Lupica found her rhythm, scattering four hits and three walks over 5.0 innings, while fanning three en route to her first victory of the season.
- Grubiak picked up the save by working a pair of scoreless innings.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
- Massaro finished the day with four RBI.
- Archibold went 2-for-4 over two games, adding a stolen base and a run scored.
- Griffith and Lupica each added a pair of hits, while Cooney scored twice.
UP NEXT:
- WP takes on Washington College at 11:45 a.m. and Plymouth State at 4:45 p.m. on Sunday, March 10.
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