PATCHOGUE, N.Y. – The William Paterson softball team (9-6) rebounded from a 10-2 five-inning defeat in game one for an 18-10 game-two victory at St. Joseph's-Long Island (3-4) March 26.

GAME ONE
 HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Golden Eagles took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning.
• WP tied the game in the top of the third inning. Sophomore first baseman Grace Gaskill (Hamilton, N.J./Steinert) led off the frame with a single through the left side. Gaskill advanced to second on a wild pitch and a single from freshman center fielder Lauren Hutchison (South Plainfield, N.J./South Plainfield), sent her home for the tying run.
• St. Joseph's retook the lead with three runs scored in the bottom of the third inning for a 4-1 edge.
• William Paterson would cut the deficit to 4-2 in the top of the fourth inning. Freshman catcher Kylie Bythrow (Deptford, N.J./Deptford) singled to the shortstop, followed up by junior third baseman Kilee Oertel (Phillipsburg, N.J./Phillipsburg) advancing to first on a walk. Both runners would advance a base on a wild pitch. A wild pitch on the fourth ball of Freshman Jaelynn Miller's (Oxford, N.J./Warren Hills) at-bat sent Oertel to third, but Bythrow would not make it home and was out at the plate. Miller's steal to second allowed the opportunity for Oertel to make it home on the throw and bring in a run.
• The Golden Eagles closed out the game with six runs in the bottom of the fourth inning for the 10-2 victory.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Miller pitched 3.0 innings inside the circle (3-1), striking out seven batters.
• Hutchison went 1-2 with an RBI.

 
GAME TWO
HOW IT HAPPENED:

• The Pioneers scored first with three runs in the top of the second inning. Gaskill led off with a single to right center. Sophomore catcher Haleigh Longo (East Stroudsburg, Pa./Stroudsburg) walked to first during the next at-bat, advancing Gaskill to second. Sophomore second baseman Haley Weinberger (Williamstown, N.J./Hammonton) plated Gaskill with an RBI-single to left field and Longo advanced to second. Hutchison would reach first on an error and gave Senior center fielder Lauren Naveo (Dumont, N.J./Dumont) a bases-loaded opportunity where she drilled a two-RBI shot through the middle that brought Weinberger and Longo home for a 3-0 lead.
• St. Joseph's would find its first run in the bottom of the second inning with an RBI-single through the middle to cut the lead to 3-1.
• WP found a pair of runs in the top of the third inning. Longo reached first on an error and would round the bases during the next at-bat as Weinberger drilled an RBI-double to left field. Hutchison would follow up with an RBI-single that brought home Weinberger for a 5-1 edge.
• The Golden Eagles took a 6-5 lead in the bottom of the third inning, scoring five runs on five hits.
• William Paterson tied the game in the top of the fifth inning as Gaskill walked in the lead-off bat and plated a run on an error during Longo's at-bat.
• The Pioneers retook the lead in the top of the sixth with a five-run inning. Graduate student left fielder Carly McDaniel (Lincoln Park, N.J./Boonton) lead off the frame with a single to right center and was immediately sent home by senior designated player Caitlin Monahan (Bloomingdale, N.J./Butler) who doubled to left field. Sophomore Lexi Corio (Bloomfield, N.J./Bloomfield) subbed in to pinch run for Monahan and was plated by Oertel on an RBI-double to center field. Weinberger brought in another run on an RBI-single, plating Oertel. Weinberger scored a run during an error during Hutchison's at-bat which advanced her to second and Naveo brought Hutchison home for the fifth run of the inning on an RBI-single through the right side for an 11-6 edge.
• St. Joseph's narrowed the deficit to 11-10 with a four-run sixth inning.
• The Pioneers closed out the game with a seven runs in the top of the seventh inning for the 18-10 win. Gaskill advanced first on a walk and made it to third base on a Bythrow single to left center. Weinberger stepped up next and delivered an RBI-single to center field, bringing Gaskill home and advancing Bythrow to third. Another error during Hutchison's at-bat allowed her to reach first and advance to second, send Weinberger to third and score Bythrow. Naveo was walked during the next at-bat and a two-RBI single to left field off the bat of senior shortstop Anna Nunziato (Wyckoff, N.J./Ramapo), plated Weinberger and Hutchison as well as advancing Naveo to third. McDaniel brought home Naveo and Nunziato on a hit to left center. Monahan and Oertel each singled through the left side and Gaskill reached on a fielder's choice which allowed McDaniel to bring home the final run of the contest.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Weinberger had a career-game, hitting a perfect 4-for-4 with four RBI and four runs scored.
• Naveo finished 2-for-4 with three RBI and one run scored.
• McDaniel hit 3-for-5, collecting two RBI, a double, and two runs scored.

 
UP NEXT:

• William Paterson continues its road schedule as the Pioneers travel to take on Drew Tuesday, March 29 for a doubleheader starting at 3:00 p.m.

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