VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS

WAYNE, N.J. – The William Paterson softball team (0-11) dropped their home opener to Scranton (11-3), falling 4-3 and 8-5 on March 26 at Pioneer Softball Field.
 
GAME ONE
HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Scranton grabbed a 2-0 lead in the first inning with a single and two doubles.
• In the bottom of the first, graduate student Jillian Bigos (Red Bank, N.J./Middletown South) reached first with a walk. Senior Gianna Mulato (Pompton Plains, N.J./Pequannock Twp.) reached first on an error and pushed Bigos to second. A pop up by graduate student Caitlin Monahan (Bloomingdale, N.J./Butler) advanced both runners into scoring position. Sophomore Lilah Guthy (East Stroudsburg, Pa./Stroudsburg) singled to third base and plated Bigos to cut the deficit to one.
• Junior Courtney Schwark (Port Ewen, N.Y./Kingston) opened up the second with a single to right field. With two outs, Bigos hit one to right field for a triple to tie the score (2-2). Mulato singled through the right side, plating Bigos and grabbing a 3-2 lead.
• The Royals tied the game in the fifth with a single and triple (3-3) and took the game in the seventh, scoring on a double and single to left field.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

• Mulato finish 2-for-3 with an RBI, double and a sacrifice hit.
• Bigos went 1-for-3 with two runs scored and an RBI triple. Bigos recorded her 10th career triple, placing her ninth on the WP career triples list.
• Guthy hit 1-for-3, collecting an RBI.
• Gaskill collected three hits on four at-bats.
• Schwark crossed the plate once.
• Guthy (0-6) pitched seven innings with three strikeouts while allowing four runs and nine hits.
   

GAME TWO
HOW IT HAPPENED:

• The Royals crossed home in the first with a walk, passed ball and a single up the middle (1-0).
• A single up the middle got the Royals on base and advanced to second on the next play. The runner on second took third on a throw and then scored on a throwing error for a 2-0 lead.
• In the third, sophomore Hailey Backo (Wallington, N.J./Wallington) singled up the middle and advanced to second on a single to left field by Bigos. Backo and Bigos stole a base to place themselves in scoring position. Gaskill secured two RBI with a single to the shortstop and tied up the game (2-2).
• Scranton grabbed a two-run advantage in the fourth off three hits (4-2).
• The top of the fifth, the Royals added another run with a sacrifice fly to center field (5-2).
• WP cut the deficit to two when Bigos singled up the middle and advanced to second on a fielder's choice. Bigos crossed the plate when Gaskill sent a ball up the middle (5-3).
• Three doubles, a single and a sacrifice fly in the top of the seventh gave Scranton an 8-3 lead.
• In a last chance effort, Mulato singled to third base and scored on a Gaskill double to center field. A single through the left side by freshman Dylan DaCunha (Avenel, N.J./Colonia) plated Gaskill the cut the lead 8-5.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

• Gaskill finished 4-for-4 with four RBI, a double and a run scored.
• DaCunha's only at-bat posted an RBI.
• Weinberger hit 3-for-4 with a double.
• Bigos crossed the plate twice, hitting 2-for-4.
• Backo and Mulato each score a run.
• Sophomore Kylie Anthony (Methuen, Mass./Methuen) (0-1) pitched 3.2 innings, allowing four runs and five hits.
• Mulato relieved Anthony, tossing 2.1 innings and securing two strikeouts.
• Guthy tossed the last inning, earning two strikeouts.

UP NEXT:

• William Paterson begins New Jersey Athletic Conference play when they travel to Rutgers-Newark on Saturday, March 30^th for a 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. doubleheader.

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