LEESBURG, FLA. – The William Paterson softball team (1-0) drove in six runs in the seventh inning, securing an 8-1 opening-day victory against Millsaps College (7-9) March at the Spring Games.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Graduate student right fielder Carly McDaniel (Lincoln Park, N.J./Boonton) batted in the first run of the season for WP with a double to left field that brought in senior shortstop Anna Nunziato (Wyckoff, N.J./Ramapo), who doubled to right center earlier in the inning, The lead was quickly extended by senior first baseman Caitlin Monahan (Bloomingdale, N.J./Butler), who drove home McDaniel during the next at-bat to give William Paterson a 2-0 lead during the top of the third inning.
• Millsaps cut the deficit to 2-1 as the batter reached on a fielding error that helped push in a run for the Majors.
• The Pioneers then exploded for six runs in the seventh inning. Sophomore catcher Haleigh Longo (East Stroudsburg, Pa./Stroudsburg) led off with a base on balls and was replaced by freshman pinch runner Lauren Hutchison (South Plainfield, N.J./South Plainfield). Hutchison advanced on an infield single by junior third basemen Kilee Oertel (Phillipsburg, N.J./Phillipsburg). Sophomore Haley Weinberger (Williamstown, N.J./Hammonton) replaced Oertel as the pinch runner, and after a ground out that advanced both runners and a bunt sinlge from senior left fielder Crystal Arendas (East Rutherford, N.J./Becton Regional), senior center fielder Lauren Naveo (Dumont, N.J./Dumont) hit a two-RBI double to center field. Nunziato pushed the ball through the left side to bring in another two runs and McDaniel doubled down the left field line to make the score 7-1. Sophomore Gianna Mulato (Pompton Plains, N.J./Pequannock Twp.) came in to pinch hit after a ground out to the short stop and plated the final run for WP with a single to the second baseman for the 8-1 advantage.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

• Freshman Jaelynn Miller (Oxford, N.J./Warren Hills) earned the first win of her collegiate career in her first career start, pitching 5.0 innings while collecting nine strikeouts and allowing only one run and three hits.
• Nunziato went 3-for-4 in the contest, adding two RBI, three doubles and two runs scored.
• McDaniel went 2-for-4with two RBI, a pair of doubles, and two runs scored.

UP NEXT:

• WP continues at the Spring Games Sunday, March 13, with matchups against Arcadia at 2:45 p.m. and Wisconsin-Platteville at 5:15 p.m.

FOLLOW THE PIONEERS:

• http://www.wpupioneers.com/socialmedia