The Pioneers advanced to 11-11 (4-4) on the season after taking down the NJCU Gothic Knights 15-9 and 6-5.
To open up the day, the Gothic Knights took a 1-0 lead thanks to a bases-loaded walk that let Freshmen Emily Cammarata score. Lilah Guthy closed out the inning for the Pioneers, as they only allowed one run.
The game remained quiet until the bottom of the second inning. Junior Hailey Backo flew out to the right field, advancing Sophomore Taylor Palmieri. The Pioneers started to pour it up, adding six more runs.
Sam Campos, Lauren Hutchison, Courtney Schwark, Allison Stein, and Kylie Bythrow crossed home plate in the inning to give a 7-1 advantage.
The Gothic Knights began to fight back. It all started with Freshman Elyse Lopez singling to center field and scoring Chey Fulton.
Over the next three innings, all the momentum shifted towards the Gothic Knights. Meaghan Doyle tripled to left field, advancing two runners home; the bases became loaded quickly for NJCU, and they capitalized, scoring another run in the fifth inning.
At the top of the 6th inning, NJCU senior Abby Castro singled up the middle, scoring Doyle, who had touched base previously. The game was tied at 7. The Gothic Knights quickly took the lead, as a groundout by Fulton scored Mya Villanueva, giving them an 8-7 lead.
The Pioneers were not done yet. An eight-run bottom of the 6th inning gave them the much-needed spark late. It all started with Courtney Schwark reaching home on an NJCU pitching mishap.
Fielding errors cost NJCU the game, ending with 8. In this inning, William Paterson’s runner crossed home plate with ease. The Pioneers gained the lead on Allison Stein’s reaching on an error, advancing Joy Shand, a pinch runner for Kylie Bythrow. At the end of the inning, the Pioneers led 15-8.
The Gothic Knights put on their rally caps and gave it their all in the top of the seventh, which led to some success. Cammarata singled to second base to get things started, but Taylor Palmieri’s efforts on the mound proved too much.
Pioneers took game one 15-9 behind a 17-hit outing.
Game 2 of the doubleheader was defensively heavy through the first inning. The scoring started with Sophomore Maggie Martin hitting a double to right field, scoring Fulton, 1-0 Gothic Knights.
The scoring remained stagnant through the third and fourth innings, but during the bottom of the fifth, Lauren Hutchinson blasted a double to left center field, scoring not just Campos but Freshman Grace Abrahman.
Castro for NJCU decided to knot the game up at two after a single that scored Doyle.
With the game tied heading into the seventh inning, both teams said it was now or never. The Gothic Knights scored three runs to gain the lead. Elyse Lopez singled to right field, allowing Emma Hanlon to score.
Next at bat, Doyle hit a single right into the gap, scoring both Cammarata and senior Jordan Mendolla. Guthy closed the inning on the mound, and the Pioneers had a golden opportunity in the bottom of the seventh.
The inning started with Hutchison tripling to center field; she finished the doubleheader with four hits.
Schwark popped out, followed by Kylie Bythrow, hitting a single, scoring Hutchison, and making it 5-3 NJCU.
Brandi Shortway singled down the third base line, Palmieri hit a single to left center, and the bases were loaded for the Pioneers with one out.
Guthy reached base on a fielder’s choice, as Mya Villanueva threw out Bythrow at home.
Hailey Backo came to the plate with two outs, hitting a double, scoring all three base runners, and walking it off for the Pioneers.
William Paterson wins Game 2 of the doubleheader and moves to sixth place in the NJAC standings, leapfrogging Stockton. NJCU remains in ninth place in the NJAC.
The Pioneers are in action at Pioneer Softball Field for a doubleheader against Stockton that starts at 12:00 PM on Saturday, April 12th. This is arguably the biggest doubleheader of their season.
