New Jersey City University Athletics

Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 BOX SCORE: GAME 1 | GAME 2

WAYNE, NJ (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | William Paterson University used several multi-run scoring innings, including six runs in the sixth inning of game two as the Pioneers swept a New Jersey Athletic Conference doubleheader from New Jersey City University, 11-3 and 14-6, both in six innings, on Tuesday afternoon at the Pioneer Softball Field.       

William Paterson improved to 19-5 and 6-2 in the conference and remains tied for second place in the league with 12 points while extending its winning streak to six. NJCU (11-17, 2-6 NJAC) lost their fourth straight game. WPU leads the all-time series, 31-2.        

In defeat, junior first baseman REBECCA SATZ (Morris Plains, NJ/Morristown) was a combined 5-for-6 with two RBIs, two runs scored and her 15^th double of the season—tying the single-season school record established in 1994 by Karen Flicker and matched twice by Jen Barletta (1998, 2000).
 
Senior shortstop MEGAN GINTER (Nutley, NJ/Nutley) had two doubles, her 13^th and 14^th of the season, and two runs in the doubleheader and moved into fourth place in school history with 151 career hits, passing current assistant coach Susie Matsutani (2005-08, 149 hits) on the all-time list.
 
As a team, NJCU hit five doubles in the two games and with 60 doubles in 28 games, shattered the single-season team school record of 57 set last year with 12 games remaining. Meanwhile, NJCU tied the single-season school record with its 16^th homerun, matching last year's team record.
 
The Knights also turned their 16^th double play of the season on defense but was plagued by errors, committing four in each game on Tuesday.
NJCU led 2-1 after two innings before the Pioneers scored four runs in the bottom of the third and five more in the fifth as they cruised past the Gothic Knights in the opening game, 11-3, in six innings. There were 24 combined hits in the game—13 for WPU and 11 for NJCU.
 
For NJCU, Satz was 3-for-3 with a run, RBI and her 15^th double and senior center fielder STEPHANIE GOMEZ (South Plainfield, NJ/Belleville) added a run and a double while going 3-for-3 with two steals. Freshman right fielder JESSICA CHANDLER (Fountain Hills, AZ/Fountain Hills) was 2-for-3. Ginter added a run and double in a 1-for-3 effort.

WPU was led by sophomore shortstop Katelyn Miele (Flanders, NJ/Pope John XXIII), who was 2-for-3 with three runs and a RBI. Senior center fielder Raquel Roder (Hoboken, NJ/Hoboken) went 2-for-4 with two runs and a RBI. The reigning NJAC Pitcher of the Week, junior Kelsey Hand (Mountainville, NY/Cornwall Central) added a run and RBI in a 1-for-2 effort as a designated hitter.
 
Melissa Swain (West Berlin, NJ/Paul VI) finished with three RBIs and a run in her only bat of the game, which was a decisive, three-run homer in the fifth inning.
 
The reigning NJAC Rookie of the Week, second baseman Christina Austin (Sewell, NJ/Washington Twp.) was 1-for-2 with a run and sophomore pitcher/designated player Rachel Cannata (Waldwick, NJ/Paramus Catholic) added two RBIs.
 
On the hill, Cannata picked up her third win of the season (3-1), allowing five hits and one earned run in 3.0 innings, with two strikeouts versus no walks. Hand started on the mound, allowing two runs and six hits in 3.0 innings, with a walk and strikeout.

Junior righty ASHLEY O'BEIRNE (Wood-Ridge, NJ/Immaculate Conception) took the loss (6-10), allowing five runs (four earned) and 10 hits in 2.2 innings, with two strikeouts and no walks.
 
NJCU struck in the top of the first as Satz led off with her record-tying double before scored on an error by Miele for the 1-0 advantage. WPU would fire back, scoring in the bottom of the first when Miele singled and later scored an unearned run on a single from junior right fielder Samantha Mulderig (Sewell, NJ/Washington Twp.)
 
NJCU would take the lead in the top of the second when Gomez singled, then stole second and third and scored on an error on the throw as the ball popped out of the third baseman's glove, to give the Gothic Knights the 2-1 advantage.
 
But WPU would take back the lead for good in the third inning as they scored four runs on seven hits as 10 batters came to the plate, which was sparked by a Cannata single through the right side that scored Austin and Miele. The Pioneers would score their next run when rookie left fielder Kelsey Principe (Parsippany, NJ/Parsippany) scored on a throwing error by Gomez. Hand would score the final WPU run of the inning as she came home on a single by Roder to left field for a 5-2 edge.
 
NJCU showed some life in the fifth inning as Ginter doubled to right center and scored on an RBI single by Satz through the left side for a 5-3 deficit.
 
WPU would crush any hopes of a comeback as they scored five runs in the bottom of the fifth. Miele walked with the bases loaded, and a wild pitch made it 8-3 before a three-run homer to left by Swain made it 10-3. Nine Pioneers batted in the inning. The game ended in the sixth inning after two hit batters and a single were followed by an outfield error for the 11^th run to enforce the eight-run rule.
In the nightcap, NJCU scored three runs in the sixth to draw within two runs, 8-6, before the Pioneers prevailed in the bottom of the sixth with six runs, ensuring the 14-6 victory. The hosts had 16-7 differential in base hits.  
 
WPU scored three runs in the bottom of the second inning after NJCU had led 2-0. After NJCU tried it with a single run  in the third, WPU posted two runs in the fourth and three in the fifth to claim an 8-3 advantage.
 
For NJCU, freshman third baseman NICOLE CALIXTO (Elizabeth, NJ/Elizabeth) was 2-for-3 with two RBIs and a run. Satz was 2-for-3 with a run and RBI and sophomore catcher MARISSA BARISO (Hewitt, NJ/West Milford) hit a solo homerun for her fifth of the season and 12^th of her career. Senior designated player JESS MUCERINO (Whippany, NJ/Whippany Park) was 1-for-2 with two runs.
 
For WPU, Swain led the 16-hit attack, going 4-for-4 with four runs and two RBIs. Sophomore right fielder Laura Henriquez (Westampton, NJ/Rancocas Valley Regional) was 3-for-4 with three RBIs and two runs.
 
Sophomore designated hitter Danielle Capozzi (Wanaque, NJ/Lakeland Regional) added three runs in 2-for-4 effort. Roder added two RBIs and a run while rookie catcher Lachelle Rouse (Pine Hill, NJ/Overbook Senior) was 1-for-2 with two RBIs. Miele and Mulderig each had two hits and a run scored as five Pioneers had multiple hits.
 
Senior righty Michele Graham (Hawthorne, NJ/Hawthorne) pitched 5.0 innings for the Pioneers and picked up the win (10-2), while allowing seven hits, six runs (four earned) with four strikeouts and one walk. O'Beirne suffered her second loss of the day (6-11). In 5.1 innings, she allowed 16 hits, 14 runs (12 earned) and walked three.
 
NJCU scored a single run in each of the first three innings. In the first frame, Mucerino singled and Calixto ripped a two-out double to left center for a 1-0 lead. Bariso belted her second homer of the season to lead off the second inning for a 2-0 advantage before Satz had a third-inning one-out RBI to drive in Ginter who led off with a double to right center, making it 3-3.
 
WPU scored its three runs in the bottom of the second for a 3-2 lead. Capozzi doubled and came all the way around on a two-base error by Gomez. After a single by Swain, she scored on the second error of the inning before an RBI single by Rouse brought in Henriquez, who had reached on an error.
 
WPU scored five runs in the fourth and fifth inning on seven hits to take an 8-3 lead going into the sixth inning. Henriquez had an RBI triple in the fourth before scoring on a sac fly by Rouse. In the fifth, Swain had an RBI double before Roder added the eventual winning runs with a two-run single.
 
NJCU attempted a rally in the top of the sixth. Mucerino walked, Satz singled and an RBI single by Calixto, batting in the cleanup spot, scored one run. Ground balls by Gomez and junior second baseman GABRIELLE RIVERA (Teaneck, NJ/Saint Joseph of the Palisades) drove in Satz and Calixto.
 
But the Pioneers scored six runs on five hits in the bottom of the sixth to preserve the victory. The offensive explosion was ignited by a Miele solo homerun down the left field line. An RBI single by Swain and a pair of wild pitches with runners on third base led up to a two-run triple to right center by Henriquez that brought in the 13^th and 14^th runs and enforced the eight-run rule.
 
NJCU will travel to Camden, NJ for an NJAC doubleheader against Rutgers University-Camden on Saturday, April 14 beginning at 1 p.m.