BRONX, N.Y. – The William Paterson softball team (10-9, 2-2 NJAC) swept Lehman College (1-8) in a non-conference doubleheader on the road April 2, cruising to a 20-1 five-inning victory in game one before securing a 16-0 five-inning win in game two.

GAME ONE
HOW IT HAPPENED:

• The Pioneers erupted for eight runs in the first inning. With two runners in scoring position, senior Hailey Backo (Wallington, N.J./Wallington) delivered a two-run double to open the scoring (2-0). Junior Megan Tinger (Garwood, N.J./Arthur L. Johnson) reached on an error to bring home Backo and senior Lilah Guthy (Stroudsburg, Pa./Stroudsburg) followed with an RBI single (4-0). Junior Molly Cocco (Florham Park, N.J./Hanover Park) and freshman Makenzie Crowe (Wayne, N.J./Wayne Valley) each drove in a run to make it 6-0, and freshman Gianna Capone (Toms River, N.J./Toms River East) followed with two-run triple that extended the lead to 8-0.
• The offense kept rolling in the next inning, adding eight more runs. Tinger led off with a double, and then Guthy launched a two-run homer to center field to make it 10-0. Katie Inglis (Pequannock, N.J./Pequannock Twp.) was hit by a pitch, advanced to third on Cocco's double, and scored on Crowe's single to left field, pushing the lead to 11-0. Senior Brandi Shortway (Midland Park, N.J./Midland Park) drove in a run with a fielder's choice (12-0) and Capone singled to keep the rally alive. The Pioneers loaded the bases before Tinger, Guthy, Inglis, and Cocco each drove in a run with singles (16-0).
• Lehman scored one run in the second inning to make the score 16-1.
• In the third inning, freshman Joy Shand (Canton, Conn./Canton) doubled to center field, advanced to third on Shortway's single, and scored on Capone's RBI single to make it 17-1. Backo followed with a single to load the bases, and Tinger drove in Shortway with an RBI single to left field (18-1).
• Inglis led off the fourth inning with a walk and then Molly Cocco (Florham Park, N.J./Hanover Park) singled to left, putting runners at first and second. After two outs, Brandi Shortway (Midland Park, N.J./Midland Park) singled to plate Inglis and make it 19-1.
• In the fifth inning, with the bases loaded, senior Kylie Anthony (Methuen, Mass./Methuen) delivered an RBI single to push the lead to 20-1.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

• Cocco had a 4-for-4 performance with two doubles, a walk, two RBIs, and two runs scored.
• Shortway went 3-for-4 with a walk, a stolen base, two RBIs and crossed the plate four times.
• Capone batted 3-for-3 with a triple, walk, three RBIs and three runs scored.
• Tinger went four 3-for-4 with a double, three RBIs, and three runs scored.
• Guthy finished 3-for-4 at the plate, including her first home run of the season, along with four RBIs and two runs scored. She also tossed 3.0 innings in the circle, striking out four batters while allowing one earned run.
• The Pioneers recorded a game-high of 24 hits, 20 RBIs, and 20 runs scored.

GAME TWO
HOW IT HAPPENED:

• WP quickly broke the game open with eight runs in the first inning. With the bases loaded and no outs, Tinger launched a two-run single to center field to make the score 2-0. After a walk loaded the bases, Cocco brought in a run on a fielder's choice (3-0). Back-to-back RBI singles from Ciravolo and DiPrenda stretched the advantage to 5-0 before Shand drove in a run on a fielder's choice (6-0). The Pioneers capped the inning when Shortway reached on an error, allowing two more runs to score and pushing the lead to 8-0.
• Geurts, Cocco, and Ciravolo drew consecutive walks to load the bases in the second inning. DiPrenda then delivered a double to right field to plate Cocco and Geurts (10-0) and Ciravolo later scored on a groundout by Capone (11-0).
• With the bases loaded in the third inning, Shand singled to center to bring home a run and make it 12-0.
• Shortway opened the fourth inning with a single before Capone reached on an error to put runners in scoring position. Backo then hit a single to center to score Shortway (13-0). Tinger followed with a two-run double to center, and Ciravolo added another RBI single to push the lead to 16-0.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

• DiPrenda finished 2-for-3 with a double, two RBIs, and two runs scored.
• Tinger went 2-for-5 with a double, four RBI's, and two runs scored.
• Ciravolo had a 2-for-3 performance with 2 RRIs and crossed the plate twice.
• Shand batted 1-for-2 with two walks, a stolen base, two RBIs, and one run scored.
• Shortway went 2-for-4 at the plate with a walk and two runs scored.

UP NEXT:

• William Paterson hosts TCNJ for an NJAC doubleheader on Saturday, April 4 at 1:00 p.m.

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