WAYNE, N.J. – The William Paterson softball team (16-5-1, 2-4-1 NJAC) edged New Jersey City (9-13, 1-7 NJAC), 1-0, before an 11-1 five-inning mercy-rule triumph in game two, on April 11.
 
GAME ONE
HOW IT HAPPENED:

• The Pioneers took a 1-0 advantage in the bottom of the fifth with two outs. Graduate student Jillian Bigos (Red Bank, N.J./Middletown South) walked and stole second and graduate student Jasmine Vera (Dumont, N.J./Dumont) doubled down the left-field line to score Bigos.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

• Vera went 2-for-3 with one RBI, a double and two stolen bases. She recorded her 15th stolen base of the season to place her ninth on the WP season-high records list for stolen bases.
• Freshman Lilah Guthy (East Stroudsburg, Pa./Stroudsburg) earned the win (7-1), pitching 5.2 innings while recording three hits and three strikeouts.
• Sophomore Jaelynn Miller (Oxford, N.J./Warren Hills) posted her first save of the season, tossing 1.1 innings with two strikeouts.
   

GAME TWO
HOW IT HAPPENED:

• WP pounded out eight runs with two outs in the bottom of the second. Graduate student Caitlin Monahan (Bloomingdale, N.J./Butler) singled to shortstop and Miller pinch ran. Miller advanced to second on a wild pitch, sophomore Lauren Hutchison (South Plainfield, N.J./South Plainfield) singled to third base and graduate student Anna Nunziato (Wyckoff, N.J./Ramapo) walked to load the bases. Bigos hit one up the middle, posting two RBI. After a walk by Vera, graduate student Carly McDaniel (Lincoln Park, N.J./Boonton) singled up the middle to plate another two runs. Junior Gianna Mulato (Pompton Plains, N.J./Pequannock Twp.) followed up with a double down the left-field line to take a 6-0 lead. Sophomore Kylie Bythrow (Deptford, N.J./Deptford) kept the inning alive with a single through the left side, putting runners on the corners. Bythrow advanced to second on a wild pitch, and Monahan's second at-bat of the inning resulted in a single down the left-field line to build an 8-0 advantage.
• The Pioneers extended the lead to 11-0 in the bottom of the fourth when freshman Hailey Backo (Wallington, N.J./Wallington) walked and advanced to second with a single through the left side by senior Kilee Oertel (Phillipsburg, N.J./Phillipsburg). Hutchison loaded the bases with a single to shortstop, and junior Grace Gaskill (Hamilton, N.J./Steinert) singled up the middle for two RBI. Nunziato placed a bunt to the pitcher for a single, loading the bases again. Bigos shot one to center field for the two final runs for the Pioneers.
• New Jersey City posted one run during the top of the fifth inning.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

• Bigos went 2-for-4 with three RBI and one run scored.
• McDaniel finished 2-for-3 with two RBI and one run scored.
• Mulato recorded two RBI, a double and one run scored.
• Monahan and Gaskill collected two RBI each.
• Miller earned the win (7-2), pitching four innings with one hit allowed and four strikeouts. She recorded her 159th career strikeout to place her 10th on the WP career pitching records for strikeouts.
• Sophomore Lindsey Acker (Wenonah, N.J./Deptford) relieved Miller, allowing one hit and one run. Mulato faced one at-bat for the last out of the game.

UP NEXT:

• William Paterson plays Thursday, April 13 hosting a non-conference doubleheader against Hunter at 3:00 p.m.

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