SCRANTON, Pa. – The William Paterson softball team (1-5) fell in both games of a doubleheader at Scranton (4-0) March 9. WP came up short in game one, 5-4, and lost, 11-1, in game two in five innings (Mercy Rule).
 
GAME ONE
HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Scranton took a 2-0 lead in the second inning and added another run in the third.
• In the fourth, junior Zoey Hagan (Atlantic Highlands, N.J./Henry Hudson) doubled to right center, bringing in classmate Lilah Guthy (East Stroudsburg, Pa./Stroudsburg) to put the Pioneers on the board (3-1).
• Junior Brandi Shortway (Midland Park, N.J./Midland Park) then singled up the middle to drive in Hagan and cut the deficit to one (3-2).
• The Royals responded in the bottom of the fourth with a pair of runs, extending their lead to 5-2.
• In the sixth inning, junior Taylor Palmieri (Oakland, N.J./Indian Hills) drove in a run with a double and advanced to third following a Scranton fielding error. Shortway grounded out to the shortstop, but Palmieri crossed home on the play to pull WP to within one (5-4).

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

• Hagan went 3-for-4 at the plate with two doubles, an RBI and two runs scored.
• Guthy batted 2-for-3 with a double and a run scored.
• Shortway finished 1-for-2 with two RBI.
• Palmieri recorded a double, an RBI and a run scored.

GAME TWO
HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Scranton plated three runs in the first inning to grab an early advantage.
• The Royals tacked on four runs in the second frame and four more in the third to extend their lead to 11-0.
• Junior Hailey Backo (Wallington, N.J./Wallington) led off the bottom of the fourth inning with a double and later scored on a Hagan sacrifice fly.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

• Backo batted 1-for-2 with a run scored.
• Hagan went 1-for-1 with an RBI.
   

UP NEXT:

• William Paterson travels to John Jay for a doubleheader Tuesday, March 11, at 2:30 p.m.

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