UNION, N.J. – The fifth-seeded William Paterson softball team (10-14) saw its season come to a close in the New Jersey Athletic Conference Tournament (NJAC) Quarterfinals after dropping both ends of a doubleheader to fifth-seeded Kean (22-7), 5-1 and 4-3, May 7.

GAME ONE
HOW IT HAPPENED:

• The Cougars opened the scoring in the fifth inning. A hit-by-pitch, back-to-back singles, two-run base hit, RBI-single and sac fly plated four for the home team.
• A solo home run in the sixth pushed the Kean advantage to 5-0.
• In the top of the seventh, singles by senior third baseman Sydney Pace (Kearny, N.J./Kearny) and junior designated player Caitlin Monahan (Bloomingdale, N.J./Butler) put runners on the corners for junior catcher Anna Nunziato (Wyckoff, N.J./Ramapo), who smacked an RBI-double that scored pinch runner Michaela Raguseo (Woodland Park, N.J./Passaic Valley) for the lone WP run of the game.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

• Nunziato went 2-for-3 at the plate with a double and an RBI.
• Senior Caitlyn Massaro (Madison, N.J./Madison) (4-7) spun her sixth complete game of the season, allowing five runs on 10 hits with one walk, striking out two.

 
GAME TWO
HOW IT HAPPENED:

• A single, sac bunt, stolen base and WP fielding error handed Kean a 1-0 edge in the top of the second, but the Pioneers took advantage of a pair of Cougars miscues to take a 2-1 lead in the home half of the same frame.
• Base hits by senior shortstop Carly McDaniel (Lincoln Park, N.J./Boonton) and Monahan, and a sac fly by Nunziato gave the Pioneers a 3-1 edge in the fourth.
• Kean strung together a single, double, walk, wild pitch and run-scoring base hit to level score 3-3 in the sixth.
• After a walk and passed ball, Kean regained the lead for good when an RBI-single up the middle made it 4-3 in favor of the Cougars.

 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

• McDaniel finished 2-for 2 at the plate and scored twice, while Nunziato tallied an RBI.
• Freshman Samantha Martin (Toms River, N.J./Toms River North) surrendered five runs (three earned) on five hits with two walks, while fanning five in 5.2 innings. Massaro (4-8) shouldered the loss after allowing one run on one hit with two walks in the final 1.2 innings of work.

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