WAYNE, N.J. – The William Paterson softball team (11-11, 4-4 NJAC) swept a New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) doubleheader against New Jersey City University (NJCU) (14-12, 1-7 NJAC) on April 10 at Pioneer Softball Field. The Pioneers secured a 15-9 victory in game one before rallying for a 6-5 walk-off in game two to complete the sweep.
GAME ONE
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- The Gothic Knights scored run one in the first inning to take a 1-0 lead.
- In the bottom of the second inning, junior Taylor Palmieri (Oakland, N.J./Indian Hills) led off with a single. Junior Lilah Guthy (East Stroudsburg, Pa./Stroudsburg) then reached on a fielder's choice, and following a throwing error that allowed Palmieri to advance, both runners stole a base. Junior Hailey Backo's (Wallington, N.J./Wallington) sacrifice fly tied the game at 1–1, and soon after, Sophomore Samantha Campos's (River Edge, N.J./River Dell) single drove in Guthy to give the Pioneers a 2–1 advantage. Senior Lauren Hutchison (South Plainfield, N.J./South Plainfield) followed with a double to drive in Campos (3-1) and senior Courtney Schwark's (Port Ewen, N.Y./Kingston) single drove in Hutchison (4-1).
- The inning continued as Senior Kylie Bythrow (Deptford, N.J./Deptford) singled, and both she and Schwark advanced on a wild pitch. Freshman Allison Stein (Hewitt, N.J./West Milford) drew a walk, and a subsequent wild pitch drove Schwark home for a 5-1 lead. Guthy's single to left field brought in both Stein and Backo, extending the Pioneer advantage to 7–1.
- NJCU scored one run in the fourth inning before a four-run surge in the fifth narrowed the deficit to just one run. They then capitalized in the top of the sixth, adding two more runs to reclaim the lead at 8-7.
- In the bottom of the sixth inning, WP tied the game after Bythrow stole second and Schwark scored on a catcher's error. (8-8). Shortway then singled and advanced to second, moving Guthy to third. With sophomore Joy Shand (Canton, Conn./Canton) pinch-running for Bythrow, she scored on an error by Stein, making it 9–8. Palmieri singled in Shortway (10-8), and then Stein stole home, allowing Palmieri to advance to third (11-8). Guthy grounded out, driving in Palmieri to extend the advantage to 12-8.
- The offensive rally continued as Backo singled, and pinch-hitter junior Mikayla Reimer (Jersey City, N.J./Dr. Ronald E. McNair) doubled to score her (13-8). Hutchison's single moved Reimer into scoring position, and a fielding error on Bythrow allowed two more runs to cross the plate, stretching the Pioneers' lead to 15–8.
- The Gothic Knights scored in the seventh inning, but the Pioneers kept them to just one run, clinching a 15-9 win.
THE NUMBERS:
- Bythrow hit 3-for-5, crossing the plate once for the Pioneers.
- Schwark went 2-for-5 in game one with two runs and an RBI.
- Hutchison finished 2-for-4, recording a double, two runs, and an RBI.
- Guthy batted 1-for-3 with one run scored and three RBIs.
GAME TWO
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- In the first inning, NJCU scored one run for an early 1-0 advantage.
- In the fifth inning, Reimer led off by drawing a hit-by-pitch, and freshman Grace Abraham (Rochelle Park, N.J./Hackensack) entered the game as a pinch-runner. A fielding error allowed Campos to reach, advancing Abraham to second, and Hutchison's double down the left-center field brought both runners home for a 2–1 lead.
- In the top of the seventh, NJCU tied the score at 2-2 before adding three runs to push a 5-2 lead.
- In the bottom of the seventh, singles from Bythrow, junior Brandi Shortway (Midland Park, N.J./Midland Park), and Palmieri loaded the bases. Guthy then reached on a fielder's choice that resulted in Bythrow being thrown out at home. With two outs, Backo's double cleared the bases, delivering a 6–5 walk-off victory for the Pioneers.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
- Hutchison went 2-for-3 with a double, triple, 2 RBIs, and one run scored.
- Shortway recorded one hit and crossed the plate once.
- Backo finished 2-for-4 with a three-run double.
- Bythrow batted 1-for-4, driving in one run for WP.
UP NEXT:
- WP will host Stockton University for a conference doubleheader on Saturday, April 12 at 12:00 p.m.
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