NEWARK, N.J. – The William Paterson softball team (0-14, 0-2 NJAC) dropped a twin bill to Rutgers-Newark (4-12, 2-0 NJAC), 7-5 and 5-3, to open up New Jersey Athletic Conference play on March 30.
 
GAME ONE
HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Graduate student Jillian Bigos (Red Bank, N.J./Middletown South) singled to right center and advanced to second on a wild pitch to get the Pioneers started in the first. Senior Gianna Mulato (Pompton Plains, N.J./Pequannock Twp.) followed up with a single to second base, plating Bigos for a 1-0 lead.
• In the second, sophomore Kylie Bythrow (Deptford, N.J./Deptford) opened the inning with a single to left field. Senior Haley Weinberger (Williamstown, N.J./Hammonton) doubled to center field, pushing Bythrow to third. With one out, sophomore Hailey Backo (Wallington, N.J./Wallington) singled to shortstop to load the bases. Mulato hit a ground-rule double, scoring Weinberger and Backo.
• Rutgers-Newark score four runs in the bottom half of the second off five hits (4-3).
• With one out in the third, sophomore Lilah Guthy (East Stroudsburg, Pa./Stroudsburg) reached on an error and stole second. A ground out by Bythrow advanced Guthy to third. Guthy crossed home plate on a center-field single by Weinberger (4-4).
• Junior Courtney Schwark (Port Ewen, N.Y./Kingston) kept the Pioneers going with two outs, singling to center field and pushing Weinberger into scoring position. Backo followed Schwark with a single, plating Weinberger for a 5-4 lead.
• Rutgers-Newark led the rest of the way, scoring three runs in the fifth (7-5).

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

• Mulato finished 2-for-4 with two RBI and a double.
• Weinberger hit 3-for-3 with an RBI, a double, and crossing the plate twice.
• Backo went 2-for-4 with an RBI and one run scored.
• Guthy and Bigos crossed the plate as well.
• Guthy (0-7) pitched 4.2 innings, allowing seven runs and 10 hits. She posted one strikeout.
• Mulato relieved Guthy, tossing 1.1 innings with one hit.
   

GAME TWO
HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Rutgers-Newark scored in the first with a single, hit by pitch and double for 2-0 advantage.
• The Pioneers cut the deficit to one in the second. Mulato singled to third base and scored on a double to left field by Guthy.
• The Scarlet Raiders grabbed two more runs on two hits and a walk to take a 4-1 lead.
• With two outs in the fourth, freshman Dylan DaCunha (Avenel, N.J./Colonia) singled center field. Freshman Joy Shand (Canton, Conn./Canton) pinch ran for DaCunha and scored on a double by graduate student Caitlin Monahan (Bloomingdale, N.J./Butler). Freshman Samantha Campos (River Edge, N.J./River Dell) plated Monahan with a single to center, cutting the lead 4-3.
• A fielder's choice, wild pitch and two stolen bases grabbed Rutgers-Newark a two-run advantage in the fourth (5-3).

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

• Guthy recorded an RBI with a double, hitting 1-for-3.
• Monahan and Campos finished 2-for-3, posting an RBI.
• Sophomore Kylie Anthony (Methuen, Mass./Methuen) (0-2) pitched four innings, allowing five runs and six hits.
• Guthy relieved Anthony in the circle for the last two innings. She posted two strikeouts.

UP NEXT:

• William Paterson travels to Glassboro, N.J. on Tuesday, April 2 for a NJAC matchup against Rowan at 2:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m.

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