WAYNE, N.J. – The sixth-seeded William Paterson softball team (23-14-1, 7-10-1 NJAC) will take on fifth-seeded Kean (26-15, 9-9 NJAC) in the second round of the New Jersey Athletic Conference Softball Tournament Tuesday, May 9, in Union, N.J., at 4:00 p.m.
WHERE:
- Cougar Softball Field: Union, N.J.; Ticket prices are $5.00 for adults: $2.00 for children, and senior citizens.
- Free tickets will be granted to all William Paterson students who attend the game at Kean with a valid WP ID courtesy of student development.
WHAT'S ON THE LINE:
- The six-team tournament uses a double-elimination format.
- The NJAC champion garners an automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Tournament.
WP IN THE NJAC TOURNAMENT:
- WP is making its 22nd appearance in the NJAC Tournament (1990, 1992, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2021, 2023), and the Pioneers are seeking their fifth conference crown (1999, 2003, 2005, 2009).
- It marks the Pioneers' first trip to the NJAC Tournament under second-year head coach, Jessica Jacobson.
SCOUTING THE PIONEERS:
- William Paterson finished the regular season with an overall record of 23-13-1 and 7-10-1 mark in NJAC play.
- The Pioneers fell to top-seeded and No. 16 ranked Rowan, 1-0, in the first round of the NJAC Tournament May 6 in Glassboro, N.J.
- Freshman Lilah Guthy (East Stroudsburg, Pa./Stroudsburg) and sophomore Jaelynn Miller (Oxford, N.J./Warren Hills) pitched a combined no-hitter, the first no-hitter in WP program history in the conference tournament since April 28, 2015 during a 5-0 victory over The College of New Jersey.
- Graduate student Carly McDaniel (Lincoln Park, N.J./Boonton) paces the Pioneers at the plate with a team-best .382 average to go with a .431 on-base percentage and .527 slugging percentage. She has recorded a team-high 42 hits with seven doubles, three triples, 23 runs, 27 RBI and 22 stolen bases.
- Fellow graduate student Jasmine Vera (Dumont, N.J./Dumont) has made her mark during her first year with the program, batting .364 with 40 hits, six doubles, two triples, a pair of homers, 27 runs and 17 RBI while going a perfect 22-for-22 in stolen base attempts on the year.
- Junior Gianna Mulato (Pompton Plains, N.J./Pequannock Twp.) has logged 27 hits with six doubles, 15 RBI and 13 runs scored while batting .318.
- Miller has pitched to a 10-6 record with a 1.52 ERA in 106 innings of work. She leads the Pioneers with 78 strikeouts and opponents are batting just .194 off of her this season.
- Guthy has compiled a 9-5 record inside the circle with a 1.27 ERA in 71.2 innings.
SCOUTING THE COUGARS:
- Kean played to a 26-15 overall record and 9-9 mark in NJAC games during the regular season.
- The Cougars carried a six-game win streak into the tournament before dropping their first-round matchup at The College of New Jersey, 3-0, May 6.
- Kean has compiled a 14-6 record at home this season and have not lost at Cougar Softball Field since falling 1-0 to New Jersey City on April 18.
- In the circle, sophomore Sydney Hixenbaugh has started 13 games while making 16 appearances. She has posted a 2.26 ERA in 83.2 innings of work with 57 strikeouts.
- She also is hitting .404 on the year with 36 hits, six doubles, four home runs, 19 RBI and 12 runs.
- Senior Annabella Marino has logged 89.1 innings pitched in 13 starts with a 1.91 ERA and 46 punchouts.
LAST TIME THEY MET:
- William Paterson and Kean last squared off April 25 in an NJAC doubleheader in which the Cougars picked up a pair of victories. Kean won the first game, 3-1, before edging the Pioneers, 1-0, in game two.
FOLLOW THE PIONEERS:
