WAYNE, N.J. – William Paterson (3-3, 2-0 NJAC) started New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) softball play with an 8-7 (eight innings), 5-0 sweep of visiting Rutgers-Newark (0-2, 0-2 NJAC) April 3.
 
GAME ONE
HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Junior second baseman Jillian Bigos (Red Bank, N.J./Middletown South) tripled to right field and senior pitcher Caitlyn Massaro (Madison, N.J./Madison) singled her in, giving WP a 1-0 first-inning edge.
• The Pioneers added two more in the second with an error, a run-scoring triple by junior right fielder Crystal Arendas (East Rutherford, N.J./Becton Regional), and an RBI-groundout by senior center fielder Vanessa Archibold (Saddle Brook, N.J./Saddle Brook).
• William Paterson extended its lead to 6-0 after three innings. Senior shortstop Carly McDaniel (Lincoln Park, N.J./Boonton) opened the frame with a walk and stolen base, and an error and a Caitlin Monahan (Bloomingdale, N.J./Butler) walk loaded the bases. Junior catcher Anna Nunziato (Wyckoff, N.J./Ramapo) singled in McDaniel, senior left fielder Ryan Tighe (Wayne, N.J./Wayne Hills) singled in Monahan, and Arendas drew a bases-loaded walk.
• A McDaniel base on balls, steal and Nunziato RBI-single up the middle pushed the lead to 7-0 in the fourth.
• Three singles, a double, one walk, two errors and a wild pitch helped the Scarlet Raiders touch home seven times during the top of the seventh inning, knotting the score at 7-7.
• The Pioneers eliminated the extra-inning runner in the top of the eighth when the Scarlet Raiders singled with two outs, but tried to advance the runner to third and she was thrown out 6-3-5.
• Arendas was placed on second to start the home half of the eighth for WP. She moved to third on a one-out Archibold groundout, then trotted home for the game-winning run when McDaniel singled to left field.

 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

• Nunziato went 2-for-3 while adding two RBI and a run scored. Arendas plated two runs and scored twice herself.
• Massaro was charged with four runs, seven hits and three walks while striking out three during her 6.1 innings inside the circle. Freshman Gianna Mulato (Pompton Plains, N.J./Pequannock Twp. ) surrendered three unearned runs on three hits, posting one strikeout in 1.2 innings (1-0).

 
GAME TWO
HOW IT HAPPENED:

• WP scored twice during its first at-bat, using a McDaniel two-out single, stolen base, a run-scoring error and an RBI-triple to right center by Nunziato.
• Freshman pitcher Samantha Martin (Toms River, N.J./Toms River North) opened the bottom of the fifth inning with a base hit to right field, and was lifted for freshman pinch runner Michaela Raguseo (Woodland Park, N.J./Passaic Valley). Arendas' sacrifice attempt went for a bunt single, and two batters later both runners crossed the plate thanks to a Bigos triple to right-center field. McDaniel then doubled in Bigos and the Pioneers owned a 5-0 lead.

 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

• McDaniel finished 2-for-3 with a double, RBI and run scored.
• Martin had a 2-for-3 effort at the plate with a double, and she tossed a complete-game shutout (1-2), scattering three hits and striking out seven without issuing a walk.

 
UP NEXT:

• William Paterson hosts Rowan Tuesday, April 6, at 1:00 p.m.

 
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