William Paterson University Athletics

JERSEY CITY, N.J. – The William Paterson softball team (21-18, 7-11 NJAC) swept its final doubleheader of the season at New Jersey City University (4-30, 2-16 NJAC), winning game one 9-4 before securing a 6-2 victory in game two on April 27.
GAME ONE
HOW IT HAPPENED:

• WP struck first in the opening inning as freshman Gianna Capone (Toms River, N.J./Toms River East) reached on a fielding error, stole second, and came around to score on senior Hailey Backo's (Wallington, N.J./Wallington) single for an early 1-0 advantage.
• Capone led off the third with a single and Backo followed with a double to left center to put runners on the corners. Junior Megan Tinger (Garwood, N.J./Arthur L. Johnson) grounded out to bring home Capone, and Backo later scored on a wild pitch to put the Pioneers ahead 3-0.
• New Jersey City scored four runs in the bottom of the third to take a 4-3 lead.
• In the fourth inning, sophomore Stephanie Ciravolo (Marlboro, N.J./Marlboro) doubled, senior Brandi Shortway (Midland Park, N.J./Midland Park) drew a walk, and Backo singled to right to load the bases. Tinger then delivered a base-clearing double to right center, scoring three to give WP a 6-4 lead. Sophomore Aubrey Miller (Sewell, N.J./Gloucester County Institute of Technology) followed with an RBI double, bringing home Tinger and extending the advantage to 7-4.
• The Pioneers added on two more runs in the seventh. With runners in scoring position, sophomore Samantha Campos (River Edge, N.J./River Dell) tripled to right field, plating senior Lilah Guthy (Stroudsburg, Pa./Stroudsburg) and senior Kylie Anthony (Methuen, Mass./Methuen) to make it 9-4.

 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

• Backo led the offense with four hits, including two doubles, along with two stolen bases, an RBI, and two runs scored. She tied the program's single-season records with 51 RBIs and 19 doubles.
• Tinger went 2-for-4 with a double, four RBIs, and one run scored.
• Campos recorded her first triple of the season to drive in two runs.
• Capone batted 1-for-4 with a stolen base and crossed the plate twice.
• Guthy, Shortway, and Ciravolo each scored a run for the Pioneers.
• Miller finished 1-for-2 with an RBI double. In the circle, she tossed 4.0 innings, allowing four runs on six hits while striking out five.
• Anthony earned her first save of the season. She pitched 3.0 innings, allowing no hits and striking out one.

 
GAME TWO
HOW IT HAPPENED:

• WP plated two runs in the first for an early lead. Capone singled, stole second, and moved to third on a passed ball before scoring on Backo's sacrifice fly to right (1-0). Later in the inning, Guthy delivered an RBI single up the middle to score Tinger for a 2-0 advantage.
• The Gothic Nights scored one run in the second to cut the deficit to 2-1.
• The Pioneers added on a run in the third as Backo doubled to left center and later scored on Miller's sacrifice fly to center (3-1).
• In the seventh inning with runners in scoring position, sophomore Kelsey Geurts (South Plainfield, N.J./South Plainfield) doubled to left field to drive in Guthy and Miller to make it 5-1. Geurts later scored on senior Mikayla Reimer's (Jersey City, N.J./Dr. Ronald E. McNair) single to push the advantage to 6-1.
• New Jersey City scored once in the seventh to make the final score 6-2.

 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

• Geurts went 1-for-3 with a double, two RBIs, and one run scored.
• Backo and Guthy each drove in a run and scored once.
• Senior Gabriella Vazquez (Parsippany, N.J./Parsippany Hills) and Shortway each recorded a double.
• Capone went 2-for-3 with a double and crossed the plate once.
• Reimer delivered an RBI single in her one at-bat.
• Guthy pitched 7.0 innings, allowing two runs on seven hits while striking out one.

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