VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS

WAYNE, N.J. – The William Paterson softball team (18-5-1) swept Hunter (7-16), 7-1, before a 14-1 five-inning mercy-rule triumph in game two on April 13.
 
GAME ONE
HOW IT HAPPENED:

• The Pioneers seized a 3-0 advantage in the bottom of the second. Graduate student Jillian Bigos (Red Bank, N.J./Middletown South) reached first on a throwing error, graduate student Jasmine Vera (Dumont, N.J./Dumont) followed with a single through the right side to put runners on the corner. Graduate student Carly McDaniel (Lincoln Park, N.J./Boonton) grounded to shortstop to plate Bigos. Junior Gianna Mulato (Pompton Plains, N.J./Pequannock Twp.) singled through the left side, scoring Vera. Graduate student Caitlin Monahan (Bloomingdale, N.J./Butler) singled through the left side to advance Mulato to third base. Mulato scored on a passed ball.
• WP extended the lead to 6-0 with two singles by sophomore Lauren Hutchison (South Plainfield, N.J./South Plainfield) and junior Haley Weinberger (Williamstown, N.J./Hammonton). Both stole a base and scored off a double to left center by graduate student Anna Nunziato (Wyckoff, N.J./Ramapo). Bigos followed up with a single to right field, pushing Nunziato to third. Vera hit a sacrifice fly to center field for the final run of the inning.
• Hunter cut the deficit by one in the top of the fifth with a single, passed ball and error.
• In the bottom of the sixth, Nunziato walked, stole second and scored on a single by senior Kilee Oertel (Phillipsburg, N.J./Phillipsburg) for the final run of the game.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

• Nunziato went 1-for-3 with two RBI, two runs scored, a double and a stolen base.
• Vera and Mulato hit 1-for-2, notching one RBI and one run scored a piece.
• McDaniel and Oertel finished 1-for-2 while posting one RBI each.
• Weinberger went 2-for-3, recording one run scored and two stolen bases.
• Senior Gabriella Brancaccio (Kendall Park, N.J./South Brunswick) earned the win (2-1), pitching seven innings while allowing eight hits, one run and striking two out.
   

GAME TWO
HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Hunter took a 1-0 lead in the first with a single, walk, passed ball and a groundout.
• The Pioneers matched the Hawks in the bottom half when Bigos singled with a bunt to the pitcher, stole second and Vera singled to second base, plating Bigos.
• In the third inning, Bigos reached on a fielding error and advanced to third scoring on the next play. McDaniel continued with a double to left and stole third, sophomore Kylie Bythrow (Deptford, N.J./Deptford) walked and Brancaccio pinch ran for her, stealing second. Junior Grace Gaskill (Hamilton, N.J./Steinert) followed with a single to left field for two RBI, making it a 4-1 advantage. Monahan put runners on the corners with a single through the left side and Mulato pinch ran for her. Hutchison scored Gaskill with a single to second and Weinberger plated Mulato with a double to right field, extending the lead 6-1. Three more doubles by Nuniziato, Bigos and Vera increased the lead 10-1.
• WP kept the bats hot in the fourth with a single up the middle by Gaskill and junior Michaela Raguseo's (Woodland Park, N.J./Passaic Valley) double to left center for an 11-1 edge. Hutchison and Nunziato both singled to plate Raguseo and Bigos reached on a fielding error to score Hutchison. Vera followed up with a single up the middle for the final RBI of the game.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

• Vera went 3-for-4 with four RBI and a double.
• Nunziato hit 2-for-4, posting two RBI, two runs scored and a double.
• Bigos finished 2-for-4 while tallying two RBI, three runs scored, a double and a stolen base.
• Gaskill hit 2-for-3 with two RBI and two runs scored.
• Raguseo recorded her first collegiate hit, securing a RBI and a run scored.
• Hutchison secured a double that led to a RBI and one run scored.
• Weinberger posted a RBI and one run scored.
• McDaniel secured her 16th stolen base of the season to move herself up to eighth on the WP single-season stolen-bases records list.
• Mulato earned the win (2-1), pitching five innings while allowing three hits, one run and striking three out.

UP NEXT:

• William Paterson travels to The College of New Jersey on Saturday, April 15 for a NJAC doubleheader at 12:00 p.m.

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