JERSEY CITY, N.J. – William Paterson softball (16-10, 3-5 NJAC) exploded offensively, tallying 37 hits over two games during a conference doubleheader sweep of New Jersey City (4-22, 0-8 NJAC), 9-2 and 12-0, April 11.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
Game One
- WP opened up a 3-0 lead during the its first at-bat when freshman catcher Emma Cooney (Livingston, N.J./Livingston) singled home junior center fielder Vanessa Archibold (Saddle Brook, N.J./Saddle Brook), and sophomore shortstop Sydney Pace's (Kearny, N.J./Kearny) single up the middle plated two.
- After Archibold scored on a wild pitch in the second frame, freshman left fielder Janaya Espino (Woodland Park, N.J./Passaic County Tech) brought around junior right fielder Ryan Tighe (Wayne, N.J./Wayne Hills) on a run-scoring base hit.
- The Gothic Knights manufactured a run in the bottom of the fourth, but the Pioneers added two scores in the fifth. Freshman Crystal Arendas (East Rutherford, N.J./Becton Regional) tripled to right center to score freshman first baseman Amber Reed (Verona, N.J./Verona), while Espino's RBI-single pushed the edge to 7-1.
- Jersey City used back-to-back doubles during the home half of the fifth to cut the deficit to 7-2.
- In the seventh inning, freshman Caitlin Monahan's (Bloomingdale, N.J./Butler) infield single to short scored Arendas, and senior catcher Jillian Bainbridge (Princeton, N.J./Hopewell Valley Central) concluded the scoring with a run-scoring single through the right side.
Game Two
- Monahan opened up the scoring in the night cap with a solo home run to left in the top of the fourth, and the Pioneers doubled their lead in the fifth as Cooney laced a run-scoring single, scoring Monahan to move ahead 2-0.
- William Paterson touched home four times in fifth frame, beginning with Reed's RBI-singles. Pace followed with a bases-clearing double to make it 6-0.
- RBI base hits from Espino, Pace, junior second baseman Andee Lupica (Maywood, N.J./Immaculate Conception) and Bainbridge highlighted a six-run seventh inning as WP closed out the 12-0 victory.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
Game One
- Espino finished 3-for-4 at the dish, driving in two, while Pace drove in a pair on a 2-for-4 effort.
- Arendas and Archibold each collected two hits while crossing the plate twice.
- Junior righty Alex Grubiak (Old Bridge, N.J./Old Bridge) picked up the victory (7-4), allowing two runs on seven hits and a walk, striking out two in 6.1 innings of work.
Game Two
- Pace collected four hits, a double and three singles, and drove in three.
- Monahan notched her second multi-hit game of the season, registering a double to go along with her first collegiate home run.
- Espino went 3-for-3 with an RBI and two run scored, while senior third baseman Christine Griffith (Upper Saddle River, N.J./Northern Highlands Regional) and Lupica each tallied a pair of base hits.
- Sophomore starter Caitlyn Massaro (Madison, N.J./Madison) improved her record to 7-4 following a complete game shutout, her second of the season, scattering six hits and fanning seven.
UP NEXT:
- William Paterson resumes conference play with a doubleheader at Stockton Saturday, April 13, at 1:00 p.m.
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