WAYNE, N.J. – The William Paterson softball team (1-1) walked off with a 5-4 second-game victory to earn a season-opening doubleheader split against visiting FDU-Florham (1-1) March 1. The Devils won the first game, 14-0 (five innings).
 
GAME ONE
HOW IT HAPPENED:

• The Devils opened with a three-run first inning, then added one in the second and two in the fourth for a 6-0 advantage.
• Eight runs crossed the plate for FDU-Florham during the top half of the fifth inning.

 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

• Senior left fielder Courtney Schwark (Port Ewen, N.Y./Kingston) and junior designated player Lilah Guthy (East Stroudsburg, Pa./Stroudsburg) were both 2-for-3 at the plate.
• Senior Lindsey Acker (Wenonah, N.J./Deptford) worked 3.1 innings, surrendering six runs (five earned), seven hits and three walks while posting three strikeouts (0-1).
• Junior Kylie Anthony (Methuen, Mass./Methuen) tossed 1.2 innings and allowed five hits, eight runs (four earned) and a walk.

 
GAME TWO
HOW IT HAPPENED:

• A single and triple produced one Devil run during their first at-bat, and a double, single and sac fly made it a 3-0 margin in the third.
• The Pioneers got two of the runs back during the home half of the fifth. Sophomore Samantha Campos (River Edge, N.J./River Dell) led off with a pinch-hit single up the middle, and after a flyout and Taylor Palmieri (Oakland, N.J./Indian Hills) fielder's choice, Guthy doubled to right center, then junior third baseman Zoey Hagan (Atlantic Highlands, N.J./Henry Hudson) delivered both runners with a single through the left side.
• WP took the lead in the sixth. Freshman second baseman Allison Stein (Hewitt, N.J./West Milford) started the frame with an infield single and was lifted for pinch runner Joy Shand (Canton, Conn./Canton). She advanced to second via a wild pitch and moved to third on a Brandi Shortway (Midland Park, N.J./Midland Park) sacrifice, then touched home when senior shortstop Hailey Backo (Wallington, N.J./Wallington) collected a base hit. Backo stole second and raced home with the go-ahead run when Campos singled to right, making it a 4-3 score.
• The Devils led off the top of the seventh with a solo homer, tying the game at 4-4.
• Hagan drew a base on balls to start the home half of the seventh, and was replaced by freshman pinch runner Grace Abraham (Rochelle Park, N.J./Hackensack). A wild pitch advanced her 60 feet, and a perfect bunt by junior catcher Gabriella Vazquez (Parsippany, N.J./Parsippany Hills) put to the go-ahead run at third base. Stein's ground ball up the middle plated Abraham and gave the Pioneers the victory.

 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

• Stein went 4-for-4 and delivered the game-winning RBI. Campos was 2-for-2 with an RBI, and Backo finished 2-for-3 while adding an RBI and run scored.
• Guthy (1-0) pitched the complete game, scattering seven hits, four runs and a walk while collecting one strikeout. She also was 1-for-3 at the plate with a double and run.
• The win was the first for WP all-American alum Kathy Hill, the Pioneers' first-year head coach.

 
UP NEXT:

• William Paterson hosts Drew for a doubleheader Tuesday, March 4, at 2:00 p.m.

 
FOLLOW THE PIONEERS:

• http://www.wpupioneers.com/socialmedia