VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS

WAYNE, N.J. – The William Paterson softball team (21-13-1, 6-10-1 NJAC) celebrated Senior Day with a sweep over Rutgers-Newark (8-28, 2-16 NJAC), to close out the NJAC regular-season on Friday, April 28. The Pioneers defeated the Scarlet Raiders 9-4 in game one before an 8-0 five-inning victory, clinching a spot in the NJAC Tournament.
 
GAME ONE
HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Rutgers-Newark seized a 1-0 advantage in the first with a single, stolen base and a double.
• WP took the lead in the bottom half of the first. Graduate student Anna Nunziato (Wyckoff, N.J./Ramapo) doubled to right field and scored on a triple to right by graduate student Jasmine Vera (Dumont, N.J./Dumont). Graduate student Carly McDaniel (Lincoln Park, N.J./Boonton) followed with a single up the middle, plating Vera for a 2-0 lead.
• The Scarlet Raiders tied the score in the third with two singles and a fielding error.
• The Pioneers scored three more runs in the third. McDaniel singled to left field and stole second. She advanced to third on a single to center field by graduate student Caitlin Monahan (Bloomingdale, N.J./Butler) and scored on a sacrifice fly by sophomore Kylie Bythrow (Deptford, N.J./Deptford). Freshman Lilah Guthy (East Stroudsburg, Pa./Stroudsburg) pinch ran for Monahan and scored on a single to right center by junior Gianna Mulato (Pompton Plains, N.J./Pequannock Twp.). Mulato took second on a passed ball and advanced to third on a single to center field by junior Haley Weinberger (Williamstown, N.J./Hammonton). Graduate student Jillian Bigos (Red Bank, N.J./Middletown South) hit a sacrifice fly to left field, scoring Mulato for a 5-2 advantage.
• Guthy posted no hits and two strikeouts in the fourth to hold Rutgers-Newark at two.
• WP added an insurance run in the bottom half of the fourth when Vera reached on a fielding error, stole second and advanced to third on a single to second by McDaniel. Monahan reached on a fielding error to score Vera, securing a 6-2 lead.
• Rutgers-Newark cut the deficit by one, in the fifth, with a triple and fielding error.
• Senior Gabriella Brancaccio (Kendall Park, N.J./South Brunswick) placed herself in scoring position in the fifth with a walk and stolen base. Nunziato shot one to left center for a double to score Brancaccio for a 7-3 lead.
• In the sixth, Bythrow singled to left field with two outs. Junior Lauren Hutchison (South Plainfield, N.J./South Plainfield) pinch ran for Bythrow and advanced to third on a single to left field by Mulato. Senior Kilee Oertel (Phillipsburg, N.J./Phillipsburg) reached on a fielding error at third, Hutchison and Mulato scored to record the Pioneers' final runs of the game.
• The Scarlet Raiders cut the deficit to five in the seventh with a walk, stolen base, passed ball and sacrifice fly.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

• McDaniel hit 3-for-4 with a run scored, RBI and two stolen bases.
• Nunziato went 3-for-4 with a run scored, RBI, double and stolen base.
• Mulato finished 3-for-4 with a RBI, two runs scored and a stolen base. Vera also recorded a RBI, two runs scored, a triple and a stolen base.
• Monahan, Bythrow and Bigos posted one RBI.
• Guthy earned the win (8-4), pitching four innings while allowing six hits and three runs. She recorded two strikeouts.
• Sophomore Jaelynn Miller (Oxford, N.J./Warren Hills) relived, tossing three innings with two hits, one run and securing four strikeouts.
   

GAME TWO
HOW IT HAPPENED:

• The Pioneers scored in the first with a homerun to right field by Vera.
• Miller pitched hitless innings in the second and third. WP extended the lead to four in the bottom half of the third. Brancaccio opened the inning with a triple to center field. Nunziato recorded a RBI, following Brancaccio with a single to center field. Vera continued with a single to left field to place Nunziato in scoring position. Nunziato and Vera stole a base and Nunziato scored on a sacrifice fly to center field by McDaniel. Monahan singled through the left side to place runners on the corners. Mulato continued the scoring with a single through the right side to plate Vera.
• In the fourth, WP took an 8-0 lead. Weinberger singled to center field and Brancaccio posted a hit with a bunt. Nunziato reached on a fielder's choice to the shortstop, scoring Weinberger. McDaniel singled through the left side and advanced to second on a fielding error in left field, plating Brancaccio and Nunziato. With two outs, Bythrow singled up the middle, scoring McDaniel for the final run of the game.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

• Vera hit 2-for-3 with a homerun, a RBI, two runs scored and a stolen base.
• Brancaccio went 2-for-2 with a triple, a stolen base and two runs scored.
• Nunziato finished with two RBI, two runs scored and a stolen base.
• Bythrow hit 2-for-3 with one RBI. McDaniel posted two RBI and a run scored.
• Miller earned the win (10-6), pitching four innings while allowing two hits and securing three strikeouts.
• Brancaccio relieved Miller, tossing one inning with one hit.

UP NEXT:

• William Paterson awaits its opponent in the upcoming New Jersey Athletics Conference Softball Tournament.

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