NJAC Tournament Championship Bracket
PITMAN, N.J. – The fifth-seeded William Paterson Pioneers (10-12, 9-9 NJAC) will begins its chase for the New Jersey Athletic Conference Softball Tournament championship when they visit the fourth-seeded Kean Cougars (20-7, 11-7 NJAC) in the best-of-three quarterfinals series Friday, May 7 at 2:00 p.m.
Games one and two will be held on Friday, May 7 at 2:00 and 5:00. If necessary, game three will take place on Saturday, May 8 at 2:00 p.m.
WHERE:
WHAT'S ON THE LINE:
- The winner advances to the semifinal round, which will be held at the higher seed, Tuesday, May 11 at 2:00 p.m. with a possible third game on Wednesday, May 12, also at 2:00 p.m.
WP IN THE NJAC TOURNAMENT:
- WP is making its 21st appearance in the NJAC Tournament (1990, 1992, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2021), and the Pioneers are seeking their fifth conference crown (1999, 2003, 2005, 2009).
SCOUTING THE PIONEERS:
- Senior third baseman Sydney Pace (Kearny, N.J./Kearny) leads the Pioneers with a .327 batting average, 12 RBI and a .426 on-base-percentage.
- Senior center fielder Vanessa Archibold (Saddle Brook, N.J./Saddle Brook) hit .304 on the season and led the team in hits (21) and stolen bases (12).
- Senior shortstop Carly McDaniel (Lincoln Park, N.J./Boonton) produced 11 RBI, five doubles and a pair of triples while scoring a team-best 14 runs.
- Junior second baseman Jillian Bigos (Red Bank, N.J./Middletown South) tied for the NJAC lead with four triples, and junior first baseman Caitlin Monahan (Bloomingdale, N.J./Butler) tallied three home runs, five doubles and 11 RBI.
- In the circle, senior Caitlyn Massaro (Madison, N.J./Madison) owns a 4-6 record with a 3.58 ERA and 25 strikeouts in 60.2 innings of work, and freshman Lexi Corio (Bloomfield, N.J./Bloomfield) has is 3-1 record on the year.
SCOUTING THE COUGARS:
- Senior Gabriella Fredette paces the cougars with .447 average to go along with eight doubles and 17 RBI, while classmate Maddie Carlson has hit .321 with six doubles, a home run and team-best 24 RBI.
- Senior Taryn DiGiacomo has been stellar in the circle this season for Kean, posting a 10-4 mark with a 1.05 ERA, 13 complete games, five shutouts, and 94 strikeouts in 86.1 innings.
LAST TIME THEY MET:
- Trailing 1-0 in the third inning of the opener of their conference doubleheader on April 20, Monahan sent DiGiacomo's pitch over the left center wall to give WP a 3-1 advantage and the Pioneers held on for the 3-2 decision. In game two, the Cougars raced out a 4-1 lead, but the Pioneers made it a one-score game in the top of the seventh, but with the bases loaded could not find the equalizer and No. 20 Kean took the night cap, 4-3.
FOLLOW THE PIONEERS:
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