VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS

WAYNE, N.J. – The William Paterson softball team (20-9-1) dropped two non-conference games to Manhattanville (20-4), 3-1 and 4-3, on April 20.
 
GAME ONE
HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Manhattanville seized a 1-0 advantage in the fifth with a single, sac bunt and a double. They added two more runs in the sixth, recording two singles, a double and a sacrifice fly.
• In the bottom half of the sixth, graduate student Jasmine Vera (Dumont, N.J./Dumont) opened the inning with a single to short. Two batters later, Vera stole second and advanced to third on a throwing error by the catcher. Freshman Hailey Backo (Wallington, N.J./Wallington) doubled to left center, scoring Vera to cut the deficit to two.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

• Backo finished 1-for-2 with a double and RBI.
• Vera hit 1-for-3 with a run scored and a stolen base. She recorded her 18^th stolen base this season to place her seventh on the WP season-high stolen bases records list.
• Senior Gabriella Brancaccio (Kendall Park, N.J./South Brunswick) (2-2) pitched the first 5.1 innings while allowing seven hits and three runs.
• Freshman Lilah Guthy (East Stroudsburg, Pa./Stroudsburg) relieved, tossing 1.2 innings with one hit and one strikeout.
   

GAME TWO
HOW IT HAPPENED:

• The Pioneers took an early 2-0 lead in the first when graduate student Anna Nunziato (Wyckoff, N.J./Ramapo) walked and graduate students Jillian Bigos (Red Bank, N.J./Middletown South), Vera and Carly McDaniel (Lincoln Park, N.J./Boonton) all singled.
• The Valiants answered back in the second to take a 3-2 lead and added one more in the fifth.
• McDaniel got the Pioneers started in the fifth with two outs when she sent one up the middle and stole second. Backo followed by taking first on a fielding error and advancing to second on another error. McDaniel scored on the two errors, making the score 4-3.
• WP held the Valiant at four runs in the last two innings. Pitcher Jaelynn Miller (Oxford, N.J./Warren Hills) closed out both innings with strikeouts.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

• McDaniel hit 4-for-4 with two RBI, one run scored and two stolen bases. She posted her 18^th stolen base this season to tie her at seventh on the WP season-high stolen bases records list.
• Junior Haley Weinberger (Williamstown, N.J./Hammonton) finished 2-for-3 with a stolen base.
• Junior Gianna Mulato (Pompton Plains, N.J./Pequannock Twp.) started for the Pioneers, pitching four innings while allowing seven hits and four runs.
• Miller relieved Mulato, tossing three innings with no hits and securing four strikeouts.
• Nunziato drew her 20th walk of the season to tie eighth on the WP season-high walks records list.

UP NEXT:

• William Paterson returns to NJAC play when they host a doubleheader against Stockton on Saturday, April 22 1:00 p.m.

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