NAPLES, FLA. – The William Paterson softball team (3-1) swept a pair of games to open the Gene Cusic Collegiate Classic. The Pioneers bested John Jay (4-4), 10-0, before they blanked Nazareth, 8-0 in six innings.


GAME ONE
HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Graduate student Anna Nunziato (Wyckoff, N.J./Ramapo) started the Pioneers off with a single to left field and would cross home plate when graduate student Carly McDaniel (Lincoln Park, N.J./Boonton) followed with a single to third base in the top of the first.
• The Pioneers would add another run in the second when junior Gianna Mulato (Pompton Plains, N.J./Pequannock Twp.) singled to right field, bringing in junior Haley Weinberger (Williamstown, N.J./Hammonton).
• In the fourth, graduate student Jillian Bigos (Red Bank, N.J./Middletown South) placed a bunt to reach first, Nunziato followed up with a single to second. Bigos and Nunziato placed themselves in scoring position on a passed ball. McDaniel would clean the bases, scoring Bigos and Nunziato on a ground out to shortstop. WP used four walks and a hit by pitch to advance graduate student Jasmine Vera (Dumont, N.J./Dumont) and sophomore Jaelynn Miller (Oxford, N.J./Warren Hills) to secure a 6-0 lead.
• In the last inning, Vera singled to left and advanced to second on a fielding error. She stole third base on a passed ball to put herself into scoring position. Graduate student Caitlin Monahan (Bloomingdale, N.J./Butler) reached first on a fielder's choice and advanced to second on a fielding error, scoring Vera.
• Sophomore Kylie Bythrow (Deptford, N.J./Deptford) reached on a fielding error, scoring Monahan. Weinberger pushed Bythrow to second on a fielder's choice. John Jay made another fielding error to advance Bythrow to third and place Mulato on first. A passed ball would score Bythrow to make the score 9-0. Mulato took second on the same passed ball and continue to third on a failed pickoff attempt. She scored the last run of the game on a wild pitch.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

• McDaniel collected three RBI and a stolen base.
• Vera and Nunziato went 2-3, with two runs scored each. Vera added three stolen bases.
• Mulato hit 1-3, securing a RBI and run scored.
• Miller (2-0) pitched six innings, allowing three hits and posting eight strikeouts.

 
GAME TWO
HOW IT HAPPENED:

• In the bottom of the first, McDaniel reached first on an error in right field. She stole second, advanced to third on a passed ball and crossed home plate on a wild pitch.
• The Pioneers took a 6-0 lead in the bottom of the second, starting with senior Gabriella Brancaccio's (Kendall Park, N.J./South Brunswick) single to left field. Brancaccio stole second and would advance to third when freshman Hailey Backo (Wallington, N.J./Wallington) hit a line drive to the shortstop. Brancaccio would score on a throwing error by the shortstop. Bigos continued the inning with a double, Nunziato took a hit by pitch and McDaniel walked to get the bases loaded. Vera singled through the left side, collecting two RBI and securing a score of 4-0. Monahan hit a double next to bring in two more runs and Bythrow singled for a RBI.
• Nazareth had a runner in scoring position in the top of the fourth with two outs but could not close out as freshman Lilah Guthy (East Stroudsburg, Pa./Stroudsburg) struck the next batter out looking.
• In the last inning, freshman Mikayla Reimer (Jersey City, N.J./Dr. Ronald E. McNair) was hit by a pitch and switched with McDaniel to pinch run. McDaniel stole second and advanced to third when sophomore Lauren Hutchison (South Plainfield, N.J./South Plainfield) reached first on a fielding error by the pitcher. Monahan collected another RBI, scoring McDaniel on a ground out to shortstop, making the score 8-0.

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INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

• Vera and Monahan each earned two RBI, one run scored and a double against Nazareth.
• Guthy (1-0) earned her first collegiate pitching victory, relieving Mulato. Guthy pitched two innings, securing three strikeouts and allowing one hit.

UP NEXT:

• William Paterson continue play at the Gene Cusic Collegiate Classic Monday, March 13, against SUNY Brockport at 1:00 p.m. and Emerson at 3:00 p.m. in Naples, Fla.

 
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