On Tuesday afternoon, the William Paterson Pioneers softball team swept the Rutgers-Newark Scarlet Raiders in a doubleheader, bouncing back from a disappointing series against Stockton with an offensive outburst in Game 1 and a dominant performance in Game 2.
Photo Courtesy: WPU Athletics
The Pioneers opened the scoring in Game 1 when Megan Tinger drove in Brandi Shortway with an RBI double. Lilah Guthy followed with an RBI single to score Hailey Backo, giving William Paterson a 2-0 lead after the first inning.
The offense surged in the second. Backo hit a two-run single, scoring Shortway and Stephanie Ci
ravolo for a 4-0 lead. Tinger added a sacrifice fly to bring home Gianna Capone, and a throwing error allowed Backo to score, extending the lead to 6-0. Aubrey Miller capped the inning with an RBI double, scoring Guthy to make it 7-0.
William Paterson added two more runs in the third. Capone doubled to score Samantha Campos, and Backo followed with an RBI single to make it 9-0.
The Pioneers broke the game open in the fourth. Guthy scored on a wild pitch, Miller came home on a Ciravolo single, and Backo drew a bases-loaded walk. Tinger added a two-run single, and Guthy followed with an RBI single to cap a six-run inning and extend the lead to 15-0.
In the fifth, Mackenzie Crowe scored on a fielder’s choice, and Backo added a two-run double to seal an 18-0 victory by mercy rule.
Guthy earned the win with a complete-game shutout, allowing four hits with five strikeouts over five innings.
Photo Courtesy: WPU Athletics
In Game 2, the Pioneers struck early as Backo delivered a bunt single to score Capone for a 1-0 lead after the first inning.
After a scoreless second, William Paterson extended its lead in the third. Backo hit a two-run double, scoring Shortway and Joy Shand. Tinger drove in Capone on a groundout, and Guthy added an RBI single to make it 5-0.
Shortway pushed the lead to 6-0 in the fourth with a bunt that scored Shand. Rutgers-Newark scored its only run in the sixth, but the Pioneers held on for a 6-1 win.
Aubrey Miller started and pitched six scoreless innings, allowing two hits with three strikeouts. Mackenzie Crowe closed the game, allowing one run and striking out one in the final inning.
The Pioneers will be back in action on Thursday afternoon traveling to the Bronx, N.Y., to take on Lehman College in a doubleheader starting at 3 p.m.
