WAYNE, N.J. – The William Paterson softball team (12-15, 2-8 NJAC) dropped both games of a New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) doubleheader at home against Kean (17-13, 4-4 NJAC) on April 11, falling 5-4 in game one and 6-5 in game two.
GAME ONE
HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Kean scored one run in the first inning to grab an early 1-0 lead.
• WP responded in the bottom half with two runs. With runners in scoring position, senior Hailey Backo (Wallington, N.J./Wallington) singled up the middle to drive in Shortway and sophomore Gianna Capone (Toms River, N.J./Toms River East) and make it 2-1.
• Kean tied the game with a run in the fifth and added the go-ahead run in the sixth for a 3-2 advantage.
• The Pioneers scored two runs in the sixth to regain the lead. Backo doubled to center and moved to third on junior Megan Tinger's (Garwood, N.J./Arthur L. Johnson) single to right center before Guthy delivered an RBI single down the right-field line to tie the game at 3–3. A sacrifice bunt by sophomore Aubrey Miller (Sewell, N.J./Gloucester County Institute of Technology) advanced the runners, and sophomore Courtney DiPrenda (Pompton Lakes, N.J./Pompton Lakes) followed with a sacrifice bunt of her own to bring home Tinger and give WP a 4–3 lead.
• Kean used a two-run seventh inning to edge WP, 5–4.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

• Backo finished 2-for-4 with a double, two RBIs, and one run scored.
• Tinger and Senior Brandi Shortway (Midland Park, N.J./Midland Park) each scored a run.
• Guthy batted 1-for-3 with an RBI.
• DiPrenda recorded a sacrifice bunt and drove in a run.
• Miller pitched 7.0 innings, allowing three earned runs on six hits while striking out four.
• William Paterson honored its six seniors, Hailey Backo (Wallington, N.J./Wallington), Brandi Shortway (Midland Park, N.J./Midland Park), Lilah Guthy (Stroudsburg, Pa./Stroudsburg), Kylie Anthony (Methuen, Mass./Methuen), Gabriella Vazquez (Parsippany, N.J./Parsippany Hills), and Mikayla Reimer (Jersey City, N.J./Dr. Ronald E. McNair), prior to the start of game one as part of senior day.

 
GAME TWO
HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Kean jumped out to a 2–0 lead with two runs in the opening inning.
• The Cougars added one run in the second inning, two in the third, and one more in the fourth to extend the advantage to 6-0.
• WP rallied for five runs in the bottom of the seventh. With the bases loaded, Shortway drew an RBI walk to bring in senior Gabriella Vazquez (Parsippany, N.J./Parsippany Hills) (6-1). Backo drove a double to left center, clearing the bases and cutting the deficit to 6-4. Tinger reached on a throwing error by the shortstop, scoring Backo to pull the Pioneers within one, 6-5, but WP fell just short in the comeback bid.

 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

• Backo finished 1-for-4 a double, three RBIs, and one run scored.
• Capone went 1-for-2 with a double and two sacrifice hits.
• Tinger recorded a double and drove in a run.
• Vazquez and Campos each recorded a hit and crossed the plate once.

UP NEXT:

• William Paterson hosts for Ramapo College for a NJAC doubleheader on Saturday, April 11 at 1:00 p.m.

 
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