WAYNE, N.J. – The William Paterson softball team (16-21, 6-12 NJAC) finished its 2022 campaign with a clean sweep at Rutgers-Newark (13-19, 5-13 NJAC) taking game one, 8-0 in five innings and 8-4 in game two, April 30.
GAME ONE
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- The Pioneers put the first runs on the board in the top of the second inning with a five-run frame. Freshman pitcher Jaelynn Miller (Oxford, N.J./Warren Hills) opened the frame with a single through the left side and stole second. Sophomore second baseman Haley Weinberger (Williamstown, N.J./Hammonton) reached on an error by the first baseman and junior right fielder Shannon Wall (Pequannock, N.J./Pequannock) singled on a bunt for a bases-loaded situation. Miller was out at home on a fielder's choice reach by sophomore first baseman Gianna Mulato (Pompton Plains, N.J./Pequannock Twp.) but reset the bases-loaded for senior left fielder Jillian Bigos (Red Bank, N.J./Middletown South) who drove in Weinberger on an RBI-single to first base. Graduate student shortstop Carly McDaniel (Lincoln Park, N.J./Boonton) reached on an error by the third baseman and a throwing error from the left fielder allowed Wall, Mulato, and Bigos to score while advancing McDaniel to second. WP finished its big inning with an RBI-single up the middle from freshman catcher Kylie Bythrow (Deptford, N.J./Deptford), plating McDaniel for a 5-0 edge.
- William Paterson closed out the game with a three-run top of the fifth for the 8-0 shutout. Miller got on base with a walk and advanced to second on a Weinberger single to right field. Miller and Weinberger each stole a base and a passed ball walk on Wall's at-bat allowed Miller to score and Weinberger to advance to third. Mulato put an RBI-single to center field, bringing home Weinberger and advancing Wall to third. Wall reached home plate for the final run on a single to third base by senior center fielder Lauren Naveo (Dumont, N.J./Dumont).
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
- Miller earned her third shutout victory in the circle (7-9), pitching all 5.0 innings and allowing just two hits and striking out a season-high 10 batters. She finishes the season with 113 strikeouts which places her eighth all-time on the single season WP charts.
- Weinberger finished 2-for-3 with two runs scored.
- Bythrow batted 2-for-3 and an RBI.
GAME TWO
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- WP took an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning as McDaniel singled to left field and stole second to put her in position to be sent home on a single down the left field line by Miller.
- The Scarlet Raiders tied the contest, 1-1 in the bottom of the first inning on an RBI-single up the middle.
- The Pioneers regained the lead in the top of the third inning. McDaniel led off with a single up the middle and stole second. Bythrow reached first on an error by the shortstop that allowed McDaniel to advance to third. A stolen base by Bythrow allowed McDaniel to make it home for a 2-1 advantage.
- WP added another run to its total in the top of the fourth inning. Wall opened the frame with a single and an advance on a throwing error from left field. Bigos earned the sacrifice bunt as Wall made it to third. Wall was plated on a single through the right by sophomore first baseman Grace Gaskill (Hamilton, N.J./Steinert) to give the Pioneers a 3-1 lead.
- A three-run top of the fifth helped extend the William Paterson advantage to 6-1. Miller reached first on an error and advanced to second on a Weinberger single up the middle. Sophomore pinch hitter Michaela Raguseo (Woodland Park, N.J./Passaic Valley) earned a sacrifice bunt that allowed Weinberger to advance to second and Miller to third. Wall reached on a throwing error during the next at-bat, allowing Miller to score and Weinberger to advance to third. Gaskill belted a two-RBI single to left field, scoring both Weinberger and Wall.
- Rutgers-Newark cut into the lead in the bottom of the fifth inning with three runs scored on three hits to narrow the edge to 6-4.
- William Paterson pulled away in the top of the sixth inning with two runs for the 8-4 victory. Junior catcher Lindsey Wall (Pequannock, N.J./Pequannock) walked during her at-bat and advanced to second on a single through the right side by Miller. Wall scored on a single to right center by Weinberger which also advanced Miller to third. Junior third baseman Kilee Oertel (Phillipsburg, N.J./Phillipsburg) grounded out to third but earned the RBI as Miller made it home for the game's final run.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
- Sophomore pitcher Lexi Corio (Bloomfield, N.J./Bloomfield) was credited with the win (7-4), pitching 4.0 innings allowing a run and five hits while also striking out five batters. Junior pitcher Gabriella Brancaccio (Kendall Park, N.J./South Brunswick) pitched 3.0 innings in relief, allowing four hits and three runs while striking out two batters.
- McDaniel stole her 13th base on the season in the contest, putting her tied for tenth in single season stolen bases on the WP charts.
- Weinberger finished 3-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored.
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