MONTCLAIR, N.J. – The William Paterson softball team (10-13, 2-6 NJAC) fell in both games of a New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) doubleheader to Montclair State University (16-10, 4-4 NJAC), dropping a 3–2 decision in eight innings in the opener before an 8–0 loss in five innings in game two.

GAME ONE
HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Montclair State scored one run in the first inning to take an early 1-0 lead.
• WP tied the game at 1-1 in the fifth inning as Senior Brandi Shortway (Midland Park, N.J./Midland Park) doubled to center and later scored on an RBI single by freshman Gianna Capone (Toms River, N.J./Toms River East).
• In the eighth inning, senior Hailey Backo (Wallington, N.J./Wallington) started on second and moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by junior Megan Tinger (Garwood, N.J./Arthur L. Johnson) before senior Lilah Guthy (Stroudsburg, Pa./Stroudsburg) singled up the middle to drive her in to give the Pioneers a 2-1 advantage.
• The Red Hawks responded with two runs in the bottom of the eighth, defeating WP by a score of 3-2.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

• Backo went 2-for-4 with two doubles and one run scored.
• Guthy finished 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI.
• Shortway recorded a double and crossed the plate once.
• Capone batted 1-for-3 and drove in one run.

GAME TWO
HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Montclair jumped out early with five runs in the first inning to go ahead 5-0.
• The Red Hawks pushed across a run in the fourth and followed with two in the fifth to make it 8–0.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

• Sophomore Stephanie Ciravolo (Marlboro, N.J./Marlboro) finished 1-for-1, accounting for the Pioneers' only hit.

UP NEXT:

• William Paterson hosts Mount Saint Mary College for a non-conference doubleheader on Wednesday, April 8 at 5:00 p.m.

 
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