WPU Sweeps Softball in NJAC
Twinbill
UNION, N.J. (4/13/10) – William Paterson
University swept a New Jersey Athletic Conference softball
doubleheader from host Kean University in a pair of two-run games
on Tuesday afternoon. The Pioneers (18-7-1, 5-3 NJAC) won the
opener, 3-1, before completing the sweep with a 4-2 victory over
the Cougars (14-10, 3-5 NJAC) in the nightcap.
GAME ONE: Pioneers Win Opener, 3-1
Sophomore right-hander Michele Graham earned the
complete game victory, scattering six hits with four strikeouts, to
lead the Pioneers to the 3-1 victory.
William Paterson took a 1-0 lead in the second inning when
junior catcher Nicole Jimmerson led off the inning with a
double, advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt and scored on a RBI
single by junior right-fielder Jillian Mulderig.
The Cougars only managed three hits over the next five innings,
before William Paterson added a pair of key insurance runs in the
top of the seventh. With two outs, junior second baseman
Lindsey Nadolny homered to right field and junior first
baseman Jenne Vitale had an RBI double to extend the lead
to 3-0.
Kean threatened in the bottom of the seventh, as rookie pinch
hitter Colleen Leschinski (pictured right) led off
with a double to centerfield. After advancing to third on a
fly-out, Leshinski scored when freshman catcher Gabi
Ciacciarelli reached on an error. The Cougars had
the tying run at the plate, before the Pioneers were able to get
out of the inning with a line-out and fly-out to end the game.
Graham improved to 10-6, as she allowed no walks and no earned
runs in the game. At the plate, Jimmerson and Mulderig had
multi-hit games, as Jimmerson scored once and Mulderig had an
RBI.
For the Cougars, six different players recorded hits, with
Leschinski finishing 1-of-1 with one run scored and senior second
baseman Melissa Dietrich finishing 1-of-2.
On the mound, junior Courtney Smyth fell to
6-6, as she allowed 10 hits and three walks, while striking out six
Pioneers.
GAME TWO: William Paterson Scores Twice in Sixth for
4-2 Win
William Paterson broke a 2-2 tie with a pair of runs in the
bottom of the sixth inning, and held off the Cougars in the top of
the seventh to earn the NJAC doubleheader sweep with the 4-2
win.
Tied at 2-2, junior Lindsey Nadolny led off the bottom
of the sixth with a single to right-center and would score the
go-ahead run when she beat the throw home on a RBI fielder's
choice by pitcher Jenna Vitale, who would advance to
second on a throwing error to home plate. Catcher Nicole
Jimmerson would follow with a RBI single to score freshman
Allyson Scerbo, who pinch-ran for Vitale, to extend the
lead to 4-2.
The Cougars were able to get the tying runs on base in the top
of the seventh inning, when freshman designated player
Colleen Leschinski started things off with a
two-out single. One batter later, senior pitcher
Cassie Shotwell reached on an error to give the
Cougars runners on first and second, however Vitale got the
game-ending ground-out to improve to 7-1 this season.
The Pioneers scored single runs in the third and fourth innings,
with the Cougars responding to tie the game in the top of the
fourth on a RBI double by junior Katie Yard and
again in the top of the fifth on a RBI single by Leschinski.
Leschinski and junior centerfielder Lindsay
Kennedy (pictured left) each had a pair of hits for the
Cougars, while Yard was 1-of-2 with a walk.
Shotwell (8-4) suffered the loss on the mound, despite just
allowing four hits and one earned run,while striking out
five.
For the Pioneers, Nadolny was 2-of-3 with two runs scored.
Vitale scattered eight hits and one walk with two strikeouts in the
complete game victory.
The Cougars return to action on Thursday, April 15, when they
travel to Lebanon Valley College for a non-conference doubleheader
at 3 p.m.
