CLERMONT, Fla. - The William Paterson softball team (3-1) split two games on the first day of the Spring Games on March 15. The Pioneers defeated McDaniel College (2-5) 7-1 and fell to Augsburg University (3-9) 9-6.

GAME ONE

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• WP jumped out to an early advantage in the first inning. Senior Brandi Shortway (Midland Park, N.J./Midland Park) drew a walk before moving to second on a sacrifice bunt by freshman Gianna Capone (Toms River, N.J./Toms River East). After moving to third later in the inning, Shortway came home when sophomore Kelsey Geurts (South Plainfield, N.J./South Plainfield) worked a bases-loaded walk to make the score 1-0.

• In the bottom of the second, sophomore Stephanie Ciravolo (Marlboro, N.J./Marlboro) singled down the left field line before crossing the plate on Shortway's triple to left field (2-0). Shortway then scored on a passed ball to extend its lead to 3-0.

• WP added another run in the bottom of the fourth to make it 4-0. Shortway singled and moved to second before scoring on a fielding error in right field off the bat of Aubrey Miller (Sewell, N.J./Gloucester County Institute of Technology).  

• McDaniel scored a run in fifth to cut the deficit to 4-1.

• WP responded in the bottom half of the inning, plating two more runs to build a 6-1 advantage. Guerts walked and later scored on an RBI double to right center by Ciravolo (5-1). Ciravolo's hit also moved pinch runner sophomore Rylie Nagle (Ridgefield Park, N.J./Ridgefield Park) to third who later came home on a sacrifice fly delivered by Shortway (6-1).

• Freshman Mackenzie Crowe pinch hit for senior Kylie Anthony (Methuen, Mass./Methuen) in the sixth inning, reaching on an error before moving to third on a single by senior Hailey Backo (Wallington, N.J./Wallington). Junior Molly Cocco's (Florham Park, N.J./Hanover Park) single through the left side drove home Backo to put the Pioneers up 7-1.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

• Shortway went 3-for-3 with a triple, a sacrifice fly, three RBIs, and two runs scored.

• Ciravolo finished 2-for-3 with a double, one RBI, and one run scored. 

• Guerts went 1-for-2 with one RBI, one stolen base, and one run scored.

• Backo added a 1-for-3 performance with a single, one stolen base, and one run scored.

• Sophomore Aubrey Miller (Sewell, N.J./Gloucester County Institute of Technology) earned the win, tossing 4.2 innings while allowing five hits, one earned run, and striking out five. 

GAME TWO

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• In the top of the first, Shortway worked a walk before advancing to third on a wild pitch, and then scored on an RBI groundout by junior Megan Tinger (Garwood, N.J./Arthur L. Johnson) to give the Pioneers an early 1-0 lead. 

• In the next inning, Geurts led off with a walk before advancing to third on a pair of throwing errors. Junior Samantha Campos (River Edge, N.J./River Dell) delivered a sacrifice fly to drive in Guerts. 

• WP increased its lead to 2–0 in the inning. Senior Lilah Guthy (Stroudsburg, Pa./Stroudsburg) reached on a throwing error by right field, advancing to second on the play, and Kelsey Geurts (South Plainfield, N.J./South Plainfield) eventually scored on a sacrifice fly by Samantha Campos (River Edge, N.J./River Dell). 

• Backo led off the top of the fourth with a triple to right-center before scoring on a single delivered by Senior Gabriella Vazquez (Parsippany, N.J./Parsippany Hills) (3-0) Later, Shortway doubled to left field to drive in Campos and Vazquez to extend the lead to 5-0.

• Augsburg got on the board in the bottom of the fourth, trimming WP's lead to 5–1. The Auggies then scored seven runs in the fifth and added another in the sixth to take a 9–5 advantage over the Pioneers.

• Miller led off the top of the seventh with a single up the middle. Sophomore Rylie Nagle (Ridgefield Park, N.J./Ridgefield Park) came in to  pinch run for Miller and scored on Backo's double to center to make the final score 9-6.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

• Backo finished 3-for-4 with a double, triple, stolen base, an RBI and one run scored.

• Shortway went 2-for-2 with a stolen base, two RBIs, and two runs scored.

UP NEXT:

• WP returns to action tomorrow March 16 for a 10:00 a.m. matchup against Springfield and a 12:30 p.m. game versus University of Maine - Farmington.

FOLLOW THE PIONEERS:

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