CLERMONT, Fla. - The William Paterson softball team (4-3) split a pair of games on March 17, dropping a narrow 4-3 decision to Farmingdale State (1-2) before bouncing back to beat Prattsburgh State (3-4), 8-4.

GAME ONE
HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Farmingdale State broke through in the fifth inning, scoring a pair of runs to take a 2-0 lead.

• The Pioneers evened the score in the top of the sixth. Junior Molly Cocco (Florham Park, N.J./Hanover Park) delivered an RBI double to left center to bring home junior Molly Tinger and cut the deficit to 2-1. Later in the inning, pinch runner sophomore Rylie Nagle (Ridgefield Park, N.J./Ridgefield Park) advanced to third on a groundout before coming around to score on an RBI single by freshman Katie Inglis (Pequannock, N.J./Pequannock Twp.), tying the game at 2-2.

• The Rams answered in the following frame, scoring two runs to regain the lead (4-2).

• In the top of the seventh, senior Hailey Backo (Wallington, N.J./Wallington) doubled to center field and advanced to third on a passed ball before scoring on a defensive miscue during a rundown to make it 4-3. 

• Despite narrowing the deficit, the Pioneers were unable to complete the comeback as Farmingdale State held on for the 4-3 victory.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

• Backo delivered a 1-for-4 performance with a double and one run scored.

• Shortway went 2-for-4 with two hits.

• Sophomore Audrey Miller added a 2-for-3 effort with a double and sacrifice bunt.

• Cocco finished 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI.

• Senior pitcher Lilah Guthy (Stroudsburg, Pa./Stroudsburg) tossed 5.2 innings while striking out five batters.

GAME TWO
HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Plattsburgh scored one run in the top of the first to take an early 1-0 lead.

• William Paterson responded in the bottom half of the inning, scoring six runs. Shortway started the rally with a single before freshman Gianna Capone (Toms River, N.J./Toms River East) reached on an error, putting runners in scoring position. Backo brought home Shortway with a sacrifice fly (1-1) and Miller followed with an RBI single to give the Pioneers the lead (2-1). Guthy then delivered an RBI single and senior Gabriella Vazquez (Parsippany, N.J./Parsippany Hills) ripped a two-run double to extend the advantage (5-1). Shortway capped the inning with another RBI single to push WP ahead 6-1.

• WP added on another run in the second inning when Backo tripled to right-center and came home on junior Megan Tinger's (Garwood, N.J./Arthur L. Johnson) single, making it 7-1.

• In the third inning, Shortway reached on a walk and moved up on a fielder's choice and an error, while Backo and Miller delivered back-to-back singles to load the bases. Miller's hit drove in Shortway to extend the advantage to 8-1.
• The Cardinals rallied for three runs in the sixth, but the Pioneers held steady to secure an 8-4 victory.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

• Shortway went 2-for-2 with an RBI and two runs scored.

• Guthy delivered two hits, an RBI, and one run scored.

• Backo finished 2-for-3 with a triple, sacrifice fly, an RBI, and one run scored.

• Miller hit 2-for-3 with an RBI and one run scored. 

UP NEXT:

• WP returns to action tomorrow March 19 for a 9:00 a.m. matchup against Franklin and Marshall College and an 11:00 a.m. game versus University of Wisconsin-La Crosse.

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