Wayne, NJ… The College of New Jersey softball team (11-9, 3-3 NJAC) dropped a pair of games to league leading William Paterson University (12-6, 4-0 NJAC) Saturday afternoon. The Pioneers took the opener 7-2, then used a two-run walk off home run to take game two 5-4.
William Paterson scored two runs in the first on a two-run single by Kara Molnar. The Pioneers tacked on single runs in both the second and third innings. TCNJ loaded the bases with no one out in the fifth inning. The Lions would score twice getting RBIs from
Jenna Schwartz (Branchburg, NJ / Somerville) and
Megan Mayernik (Columbus, NJ / Northern Burlington).
Following a fifth run by the Pioneers in the bottom of the fifth, the Lions again loaded the bases with no one out in the top of the sixth. TCNJ was unable to push a run across in the inning. With two outs in the seventh the Lions connected for three straight singles to load the bases for the third straight inning, but a fly out to right would end the game.
Game two began much the same way as way as the first, with the Pioneers scoring in first inning, then tacking on two more in the bottom of the third. In the top of the fourth, TCNJ got back-to-back two out doubles from
Jess McGuire (Stockton, NJ / Hunterdon Central) and
Jess Santelli (Hillsborough, NJ / Hillsborough) to break through with a run. Following a walk, the Lions got a third double in the inning from
Madison Levine (Oakland, NJ / Indian Hills) to tie the game.
The teams remained knotted at three until the top of the seventh when
Annalise Suitovsky (Warren Twp., NJ / Watchung Hills) continued her hot play during the conference schedule ripping an RBI single back up the middle to give the Lions the lead. TCNJ got two outs in the bottom of the seventh before a walk brought Kaitlyn Poretti to the plate. Poretti deposited the pitch over the left field fence to earn the sweep for the Pioneers.
Gabrielle Castelli came on in relief in game two after pitching a complete game in the opener to earn both wins and improve her record to 8-1 on the season.
The Lions return to action on Tuesday, April 11 at 3:00 p.m. from Dr. June Walker Field when they host Rowan University.
