WAYNE, N.J. – The William Paterson softball team (15-16, 3-9 NJAC) swept a non-conference home doubleheader against the University of Mount Saint Vincent (8-17, 1-5 SKYLINE) on April 16, winning 15–4 in five innings in game one and 12–4 in five innings in game two.
GAME ONE
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- WP erupted for seven runs in the bottom of the first to take a 7-0 lead. Shortway and freshman Gianna Capone (Toms River, N.J./Toms River East) opened the inning with singles before junior Megan Tinger (Garwood, N.J./Arthur L. Johnson) drove in the first run with an RBI single (1-0). Senior Lilah Guthy (Stroudsburg, Pa./Stroudsburg) followed with a run-scoring fielder's choice (2-0), and then junior Samantha Campos (River Edge, N.J./River Dell), sophomore Kelsey Geurts (South Plainfield, N.J./South Plainfield), and freshman Katie Inglis (Pequannock, N.J./Pequannock Twp.) each brought in a run during the rally (5-0). Senior Brandi Shortway (Midland Park, N.J./Midland Park) capped the inning with a two-run double to left center to make it 7-0.
- The Pioneers added another run in the second when senior Hailey Backo (Wallington, N.J./Wallington) reached on an error and later scored on Tinger's RBI double to right field (8-0).
- Mount Saint Vincent plated four runs in the third inning to cut the deficit to 8-4.
- WP broke the game open in the bottom of the third with seven runs to extend the lead. With the bases loaded, Backo delivered a two-run double to right field (10-4). A wild pitch brought in another run, and Tinger followed by reaching on an error that plated one more (12-4). Later in the inning, a throwing error allowed two runs to score before Geurts capped the rally with an RBI double to left (15-4).
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
- Shortway finished 3-for-4 with a double, two RBIs, and two runs scored.
- Tinger added a double with three RBIs and two runs scored.
- Backo went 1-for-2 with two RBIs and two runs scored.
- Capone batted 2-for-3 and crossed the plate twice.
- Geurts finished 1-for-2 with two RBIs.
- Campos and Inglis each drove in a run and scored twice.
GAME TWO
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- WP took an early 1-0 lead in the first as Shortway singled and moved to third before Backo drove her in with an RBI double to left.
- Mount Saint Vincent scored three runs in the second inning to go ahead 3-1.
- The Pioneers responded in the bottom half of the frame, scoring three runs to regain the lead. Geurts singled and later scored on Shortway's RBI triple while Capone followed with a triple of her own to bring in Shortway and later scored on a wild pitch (4-3).
- WP added two runs in the third to extend the lead to 6-3. Geurts and Cocco hit back-to-back singles before Ciravolo drove in Cocco with a single to left field. After singles by Cocco and Geurts, Ciravolo drove in a run with a single to left, and Shortway followed with an RBI single to right center.
- The Dolphins plated one run in the fourth inning to cut the advantage to 6-4.
- Backo led off the fourth inning with a walk before stealing second and advancing to third on Tinger's single to left field. Tinger then stole second, and Backo scored on a throwing error by the catcher to make it 7-4.
- In the bottom of the fifth, Shortway doubled to right center to score Geurts (8-4), and Tinger delivered an RBI single to score Shortway (9-4). Sophomore Aubrey Miller (Sewell, N.J./Gloucester County Institute of Technology) followed with a two-run double to left center to extend the lead to 11-4, and DiPrenda capped the inning with an RBI double that ended the game, 12-4.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
- Shortway went 4-for-4 with a double, triple, three RBIs, and three runs scored.
- Tinger finished 2-for-3 with an RBI and scored one run.
- Capone was 1-for-2 with a triple, an RBI, and crossed the plate twice.
- Geurts had two hits and three runs scored.
- Miller went 1-for-3 with a double, two RBIs, and one run scored. She tossed 3.2 innings in the circle, allowing one run on three hits while striking out four.
UP NEXT:
- William Paterson visits #23 Rowan for an NJAC doubleheader on Tuesday, April 21 at 3:00 p.m.
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