On Tuesday, April 21, the William Paterson Pioneers softball team swept the Rutgers-Camden Scarlet Raptors in a doubleheader, winning the first game 6-3 and the second game 7-0, in their home finale.
After dropping both games in a doubleheader to Rowan University who are tied for the lead in the NJAC this past weekend, the Pioneers looked to leave those games in the past and bounce back in this series against the Scarlet Raptors Tuesday afternoon.
Game one started off with two scoreless innings from both teams, then in the third both teams’ offenses woke up, with each team putting a few runs on the board. In the top of the inning, the Scarlet Raptors opened the scoring with an RBI single to left field, driving in one run and giving them a 1-0 lead. This was shortly followed by a runner scoring on a fielder’s choice to first and then in the next at bat another run was scored on a fielder’s choice to second, giving the Scarlet Raptors a 3-0 lead after the first frame of the inning.
In the bottom half of the inning, the Pioneers answered back with a double by senior outfielder Brandi Shortway to left center that drove sophomore Stephanie Ciravolo home to cut the deficit to two runs. This was followed by senior shortstop Hailey Backo singling up the middle to drive in Shortway for their second run of the game. Junior catcher Megan Tinger then hit a sacrifice fly to centerfield that scored sophomore outfielder Kelsey Geurts to tie the game at three runs apiece. The Pioneers did not stop there though, scoring one more run in the inning and taking a 4-3 lead off sophomore pitcher Aubrey Miller’s RBI single to left with Backo reaching home to close out an action-packed inning.
In the fourth, Ciravolo scored a run after Backo grounded into a fielder’s choice, increasing the Pioneers lead to 5-3. The Pioneers scored a final run in the sixth after Geurts hit a double to left, driving in Shortway to give them a 6-3 lead, which was enough to win them the game after a scoreless seventh inning.
Miller started in game one for the Pioneers, pitching a complete seven innings, and allowing three runs (two earned), striking out six batters, and walking three.
Junior Sammie Friel pitched the entire six innings for the Scarlet Raptors, allowing six runs, (five earned), striking out two batters, as well as walking two batters.
Game two started off slow, with a scoreless first and second inning with exceptional plays defensively by both teams throughout the game. The Pioneers opened the scoring on a sacrifice fly in the third inning with Geurts reaching home on the play. Two more runs were scored by the Pioneers in the third on a single from sophomore Courtney DiPrenda where Tinger and Backo scored due to a throwing error by freshman left fielder Lilia Ortiz.
The Pioneers offense continued to erupt in the fourth inning, with Backo recording a two run single, with Shortway and freshman right fielder Makenzie Crowe crossing the plate, giving the Pioneers a 5-0 lead. The Pioneers did not stop there, with Ciravolo hitting a two run single that drove home both Backo giving the Pioneers a comfortable seven run lead that they held onto for the rest of the game by shutting down the Scarlet Raptors offense, winning the game 7-0.
Senior Lilah Guthy earned the start in game two for the Pioneers, putting up a stat line of four and a third innings pitched, allowing no runs, one hit, one strikeout, and no walks. Senior Kylie Anthony pitched in relief of Guthy, entering the game in the seventh inning and she pitched two and two thirds innings, allowing no runs, and no walks. 
Junior Anna Milillo started for Rutgers Camden, pitching three innings, allowing six runs (three earned), six hits, one strikeout, and three walks. Freshman Natalie D’Angelo finished the game for the Scarlet Raptors in relief, entering the game in the seventh inning. D’Angelo pitched 3 innings, allowing one run, and one walk.
The Pioneers will square off in a doubleheader against Centenary University on Wednesday, April 22, at 3:00 p.m before closing their season out with a conference face-off with New Jersey City University on Saturday, April 25, with first pitch at 11:30 a.m.
