WAYNE, N.J. – The William Paterson softball team (14-21) suffered a doubleheader defeat to Stevens (14-16) in its final home doubleheader of the season, April 28, losing a 12-3 five-inning contest in game one and a 10-7 defeat in game two.
GAME ONE
HOW IT HAPPENED:- The Ducks took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first, scoring a run on a fielding error.
- WP answered in the bottom of the first to tie the game, 1-1. Senior centerfielder Lauren Naveo (Dumont, N.J./Dumont) led off with a single up the middle and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by sophomore shortstop Haley Weinberger (Williamstown, N.J./Hammonton). Freshman Jaelynn Miller (Oxford, N.J./Warren Hills) grounded out to second base but earned the RBI as Naveo made it home for the game-tying run.
- Stevens retook the lead in the top of the third inning with three runs scored on three hits for a 4-1 edge.
- The Pioneers cut the lead to 4-2 in the bottom of the third inning. Naveo reached on a fielding error by the shortstop and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Miller earned another RBI on a single through the middle, plating Naveo.
- The Ducks put together a four-run top of the fourth to extend its lead to 8-2.
- William Paterson found a run in the bottom of the fourth inning. Junior third baseman Kilee Oertel (Phillipsburg, N.J./Phillipsburg) opened the frame with a single down the right field line. Junior right fielder Shannon Wall (Pequannock, N.J./Pequannock) reached on a fielding error by the third baseman, advancing Oertel to second. Wall was followed up by sophomore pitcher Lexi Corio (Bloomfield, N.J./Bloomfield) who singled through the middle, advancing Oertel and Wall for a bases-loaded situation. Bigos grounded into a double play but was able to drive in Oertel to cut the lead to 8-3.
- Stevens closed out the game in the top of the fifth with four runs to take the 12-3 victory.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
- Miller struck out her 100th batter of the season in the second inning while also pitching 3.1 innings (6-9), surrendering nine hits and seven runs (six earned runs). Miller also collected a hit and two RBI.
- Naveo collected a hit and two runs during three at-bats.
GAME TWO
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- The Pioneers took an early 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. Naveo led off with a single through the left side and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Bigos. Graduate student shortstop Carly McDaniel (Lincoln Park, N.J./Boonton) singled up in the middle during the next at-bat, advancing Naveo to third base. McDaniel stole second and Weinberger walked during her at-bat for a bases-loaded situation where Oertel hit a two-RBI single up the middle, plating Naveo and McDaniel while advancing Weinberger to second. Wall stepped up next with an RBI-single up the middle, bringing home Weinberger.
- Stevens brought in four runs on three hits in the top of the second inning to take the lead, 4-3.
- William Paterson answered right back with another three-run inning in the bottom of second to retake the lead, 6-4. Naveo doubled down the left field line during her at-bat and was brought home on a single to second base by McDaniel. Miller singled to the shortstop, advancing McDaniel to second and both runners were brought home on a two-RBI double to left center by Weinberger for the go-ahead runs.
- The Ducks rallied back with a four-run top of the third inning for an 8-6 edge.
- A ground out RBI in the top of the fourth inning extended the Stevens advantage to 9-6.
- WP cut into the lead in the bottom of fifth inning as junior catcher Lindsey Wall (Pequannock, N.J./Pequannock) doubled to left center, followed by an RBI-double to right center off the bat of sophomore first baseman Grace Gaskill (Hamilton, N.J./Steinert) to make the score 9-7.
- Stevens collected the final run of the contest in the top of the sixth inning on an RBI-single down the right field line for a 10-7 win.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
- Junior pitcher Gabriella Brancaccio (Kendall Park, N.J./South Brunswick) suffered the loss in the circle (0-1), allowing eight hits and eight runs (zero earned) with one strikeout.
- Naveo finished a perfect 4-for-4 in the contest with a double and two runs scored
- McDaniel batted 2-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored.
UP NEXT:
- William Paterson heads to Rutgers-Newark for its final regular-season doubleheader Saturday, April 30, starting at 1:00 p.m.
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