The Pioneers and the Montclair State Redhawks split in their NJAC doubleheader on Tuesday, April 22.

At the beginning of the first game, Montclair struck early as junior infielder Jordyn Hester hit a double right up the middle, scoring right fielder Sophia Alonso for a 1-0 Redhawk early lead.

The game stayed quiet until the Pioneers exploded at the bottom of the second inning.

Taylor Palmieri, also on the mound, got walked in her first at-bat. Kylie Bythrow and Lilah Guthy got on the bag to load the bases early. While lead-off hitter Courtney Schwark grounded out to second base, Palmieri advanced home.

Next at bat, Lauren Hutchison singled, scoring both Bythrow and Guthy and making it 3-1. Backo singled into center, advancing Hutchison home, making it a 4-1 Pioneer lead at the end of the second inning.

The Redhawks scored one in the top of the third inning; Palmieri walked outfielder Raleigh Glynn, and as she stole second and third, Glynn advanced home on a sacrifice fly by shortstop Liz Mullen. While the Pioneers continued momentum in the bottom of the third, Palmieri got walked, and Guthy nearly hit a ball out of the park, banging off the fence, with runners on second and third.

Zoey Hagan was up to bat. The teams were tied. Hagan swung, and it sounded like the ball was tipped and fouled, but it was called a strikeout. Coach Kathy Hill and assistant Vanessa Lenior were not pleased with the call, as the fans poured in on the umpires.

Schwark popped out to left field, leaving both runners on.

The fourth inning was silent, as Palmieri and Redhawks pitcher Sage Rizzi had 1-2-3 innings.

The Redhawks started the top of the 5th with a bang. Palmeri walked Glynn as she stole second, her third stolen base of the game. Mullen hit an RBI double, bringing the score to 4-3. Palmieri closed the inning, striking out Hester.

Palmieri, still pitching in the top of the seventh inning, gets two quick outs on pinch hitters junior Julia Casilas and senior Avery Mochrie. Palmieri walks Glynn, leaving a runner on before junior infielder Carlee Iannone pops out to centerfield.

The Pioneers take a 4-3 win in the first game.

The Redhawks started game two hot; a Carlee Iannon double to center field scored two runners, giving Montclair State an early 2-0 lead.

The Pioneers did not want to go down just yet. After a ground ball, Palmeiri reached first base on a fielding error by the Redhawks, advancing Schwark, who previously reached base on a single, not only to third but also to home, coming within a run.

Iannon, the designated player, continued her hot bat in the top of the third inning, singling down the right side, scoring Alonso and Glynn; 4-1 Redhawks.

Lilah Guthy, who started the second game, struggled early on. After three innings, she was relieved. She finished her outing, allowing nine hits, six runs, and two strikeouts.

She was relieved by Lindsey Acker, who closed the fourth inning.

With the Redhawks leading by five, Alli Stein contributed by singling up the middle and scoring Hailey Backo, cutting the deficit to four.

The Pioneers’ newfound success couldn’t last, either. In the top of the fifth inning, freshman Abby Zebick singled to center field, adding another run scored by classmate Gianna Streppone.

The Pioneers stayed stagnant at the bottom of the fifth. Schwark got a base hit and advanced to third after Brandi Shortway grounded out.

She reached third after Taylor Palmieri reached on a fielding error.

With two outs in the inning, Backo was up to bat with a runner in scoring position, but couldn’t get things going by grounding out to third. It was still a 5-run game.

Montclair State continued to pour it on. Mullen reached on a fielder’s choice bunt that freshman Stephenie Ciravolo, the new pitcher, was too slow to get.

Glynn advanced to third, and senior Madison Leech scored.

The Redhawks ended their reign of terror after Ionnan scored two runners, Alonso and Glynn, giving Montclair a 10-2 lead.

Carlee Ionnan ended Game 2 by going 3-3 with 6 RBIs, while Raleigh Glynn went 4-4, scoring every time and adding three stolen bases for six stolen bases in the doubleheader.

The Redhawks outhit the Pioneers 13-5 in game two.

The Pioneers improved to 8-8 in the NJAC competition and 16-16 overall. They are currently in 7th place in the NJAC standings, which determines the top 6 teams that advance to the NJAC playoffs.

William Paterson’s season finale against TCNJ will take place in Ewing, New Jersey, on Saturday, April 26, starting at 1 p.m.