WAYNE, N.J. – The William Paterson softball team (9-7, 2-0 NJAC) swept Rutgers Newark (6-10, 0-2 NJAC) in a home NJAC doubleheader on March 29 at Pioneer Softball Park. The Pioneers secured a 7-5 victory in game one before dominating game two with an 11-1 win in five innings.  
 
GAME ONE
HOW IT HAPPENED:

• In the second inning, the Pioneers took an early lead when junior Taylor Palmieri (Oakland, N.J./Indian Hills) singled up the middle with the bases loaded, driving in junior Lilah Guthy (East Stroudsburg, Pa./Stroudsburg) and junior Zoey Hagan (Atlantic Highlands, N.J./Henry Hudson) (2-0). Senior Kylie Bythrow's (Deptford, N.J./Deptford) bunt single loaded the bases, and senior Lauren Hutchison's (South Plainfield, N.J./South Plainfield) groundout to shortstop brought in Backo for a 3-0 advantage.
• Senior Courtney Schwark (Port Ewen, N.Y./Kingston) reached on a fielder's choice, and throwing error by the shortstop allowed Palmieri to score (4-0). Sophomore Samantha Campos (River Edge, N.J./River Dell) followed with a double down the left-field line, driving in Bythrow and Schwark to extend the lead to 6-0. Junior Brandi Shortway (Midland Park, N.J./Midland Park) then doubled to left center, plating Campos for a 7-0 lead.
• The Scarlet Raiders scored three runs in the fourth inning to narrow the Pioneers' lead to 7-3.
• In the top of the seventh, Rutgers-Newark hit a two-run homer to reduce the deficit further (7-5). WP held on to their lead and secured the 7-5 victory.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

• Campos finished 2-for-4 with a double, two RBIs, and one run scored.
• Shortway hit 2-4, including an RBI double.
• Palmieri went 1-for-3 with two RBIs and one run scored.
• Bythrow recorded two hits in three at-bats and one RBI.
• Schwark, Guthy, and Backo each crossed the plate for the Pioneers.

GAME TWO
HOW IT HAPPENED:

• In the bottom of the first inning, the Pioneers took an early 4-0 lead. Schwark led off with a single, advancing to third when Campos reached and advanced to second on a throwing error by the pitcher. Shortway then reached on a throwing error by the second baseman, advancing to third and scoring both Campos and Schwark (2-0). Hagan singled to left, driving in Shortway (3-0). Palmieri grounded out to shortstop, bringing in Hagan to make it 4-0.
• Rutgers-Newark scored one run in the bottom of the third inning to make the score 4-1.
• The Pioneers responded with one run in the bottom half of the inning when Backo reached on an error, allowing Shortway to score (5-1).
• In the fourth inning, WP extended their lead to 11-1. Schwark and Campos led off with back-to-back singles, followed by Shortway's two-run triple to left center (7-1). Guthy's ground out brought in Shortway, and RBI doubles by junior Gabriella Vazquez (Parsippany, N.J./Parsippany Hills) and Hutchison brought in three more runs for the Pioneers (11-1).
• The Pioneers held Rutgers-Newark to one run, cruising to an 11-1 win after five innings.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

• Schwark went 2-for-4 with an RBI and crossed the plate twice for the Pioneers.
• Campos hit 1-for-2 with a stolen base and two runs scored.
• Shortway batted 2-for-3 including a triple, three RBIs, and three runs scored.
• Vazquez finished 1-for-2 with one run scored and an RBI double.
• Backo went 2-for-3 with a stolen base and one run scored.

UP NEXT:

• WP hosts Rowan University for a NJAC doubleheader on Tuesday, April 1 at 2:30 p.m.

 
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