WAYNE, N.J. – The William Paterson softball team (17-18, 5-11 NJAC) closed out its home schedule with a sweep of Rutgers-Camden (8-20, 3-13 NJAC), winning 6-3 in game one before cruising to a 7-0 victory in game two.

GAME ONE
HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Rutgers-Camden scored three runs in the third inning to go ahead 3-0.
• WP rallied for four runs in the bottom of the third to take the lead. Sophomore Stephanie Ciravolo (Marlboro, N.J./Marlboro) walked and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt before senior Brandi Shortway (Midland Park, N.J./Midland Park) doubled to left center to bring her home (3-1). After sophomore Kelsey Geurts (South Plainfield, N.J./South Plainfield) walked, senior Hailey Backo (Wallington, N.J./Wallington) singled up the middle to drive in another run (3-2). Junior Megan Tinger (Garwood, N.J./Arthur L. Johnson) followed with a sacrifice fly to score Geurts (3-3), and Miller capped the inning with an RBI single to plate Backo (4-3).
• The Pioneers added a run in the fourth as Ciravolo doubled to start the inning and moved to third on senior Gabriella Vazquez's (Parsippany, N.J./Parsippany Hills) single before scoring on a groundout by Backo to make it 5-3.
• WP pushed across another run in the sixth as Geurts delivered an RBI double to left to plate Shortway and extend the lead to 6–3.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

• Ciravolo finished 2-for-2 with a double and two runs scored.
• Geurts added an RBI double and scored once.
• Shortway went 2-for-4 with a double, a stolen base, one RBI, and two runs scored.
• Backo batted 1-for-4 with a stolen base, two RBIs, and one run scored.
• Tinger and sophomore Aubrey Miller (Sewell, N.J./Gloucester County Institute of Technology) each recorded an RBI single.
• Miller pitched 7.0 innings, allowing three runs on six hits while striking out six.

GAME TWO
HOW IT HAPPENED:

• WP opened the scoring with three runs in the third inning. Geurts singled and later scored on a sacrifice fly by Guthy (1-0). After Ciravolo walked, sophomore Courtney DiPrenda (Pompton Lakes, N.J./Pompton Lakes) singled to left field and advanced on a throwing error, bringing in both Tinger and Backo to make the score 3-0.
• With the bases loaded in the fourth inning, Backo delivered a two-run single up the middle to bring in freshman Makenzie Crowe (Wayne, N.J./Wayne Valley) and Shortway (5-0). Later in the inning, Ciravolo added a two-run single of her own, scoring Backo and Geurts to extend the advantage to 7-0.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

• Geurts went 2-for-3 with two runs scored.
• Backo finished 1-for-4 with two RBIs and two runs scored.
• DiPrenda drove in two runs.
• Crowe added a double and one run scored.
• Shortway and Tinger each crossed the plate once.
• Senior Mikayla Reimer (Jersey City, N.J./Dr. Ronald E. McNair) recorded her first hit of the season.
• Guthy pitched 4.1 innings, allowing just three hits while striking out one.

UP NEXT:

• William Paterson travels to Centenary University for a non-conference doubleheader on Wednesday, April 22 at 3:00 p.m.

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