JERSEY CITY, N.J. (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | William Paterson University scored three runs in the first inning of game one and 10 in the final two innings of game two as the Pioneers swept a New Jersey Athletic Conference doubleheader from the New Jersey City University softball team on April 11 at the Thomas M. Gerrity Athletic Complex                , 9-2 and 12-0, both in seven innings.
 
In a twinbill moved from April 9 due to rain, the Pioneers combined for 37 hits in the two games to snap a six-game skid and improved to 16-10 overall and 3-5 in the NJAC. NJCU fell to 4-22 (0-8 NJAC) with the defeats.
 
NJCU senior Hannah Gavin (Bordentown, NJ/Bordentown) got the start at catcher in both games and had three hits, highlighted by her 25th and 26th career doubles, and moved into 12th place in school history with 108 career hits. She is seventh all-time in doubles.
 
WP freshman outfielder Janaya Espino (Woodland Park, N.J.) had the best overall day, batting a combined 6-for-7 with three RBIs and two runs. Sophomore shortstop/designated player Sydney Pace (Kearny, N.J.) was a combined 6-for-9 with five RBIs.
 
GAME 1: William Paterson 9, NJCU 2
The Pioneers scored three times in the top of the first, added single runs in the second and third to build a 5-0 lead, and put the game away with two runs in the fifth and seventh innings. NJCU scored in the fourth and fifth innings. WP had a 17-7 margin in hits.
 
Espino led WP, batting 3-for-4 with two RBIs while Pace was 2-for-4 with two RBIs. Junior center fielder Vanessa Archibold (Saddle Brook, N.J.) batted 2-for-4 and scored twice. Freshman right fielder Crystal Arendas (East Rutherford, N.J.) came in as a defensive replacement and batted 2-for-2 with two runs and one RBI.
 
Gavin and freshman first baseman Emma Herrick (Sayreville, NJ/Sayreville War Memorial) each doubled for NJCU. Herrick also walked and drove in a run and freshman right fielder Gisselle Vigil (Jersey City, NJ/Dickinson) had one RBI.
 
Junior left-handed pitcher Alex Grubiak (Old Bridge, N.J.) was the winning pitcher (7-4), allowing two runs and seven hits with two strikeouts and one walk.
 
WP got the runs it needed in the top of the first, scoring three times on four hits. Freshman catcher Emma Cooney (Livingston, N.J.) knocked in the lead run before Pace had a two-run single. A second-inning error led to the fourth run and junior right fielder Ryan Tighe (Wayne, N.J.) tripled and scored on an RBI by Espino for a 5-0 lead.
 
Junior left fielder Arianna Scrimo (Kearny, NJ/Kearny) singled to lead off the fourth and scored on an RBI single by Vigil. WP responded in the top of the fifth as freshman first baseman Amber Reed (Verona, N.J.) doubled and Arendas followed with a triple to right center and both scored to make it a 7-1 lead. Doubles by Gavin and Herrick in the fifth gave NJCU its second run but the Knights were limited from there. WP scored twice in the seventh.
 
GAME 2: William Paterson 12, NJCU 0
The Pioneers were held without a hit for the first two innings and only led 2-0 after five innings before scoring four times in the sixth inning and added six runs in the seventh. Pace had a three-run bases-clearing double in the sixth when the Pioneers pulled away. In defeat, Gavin was 2-for-3 for NJCU with a double.
 
Pace led the Pioneers, going 4-for-5 with three RBIs and one run. Espino was 3-for-3 with two runs and one RBI. Freshman first baseman Caitlin Monahan (Bloomingdale, N.J.) was 2-for-4 with two runs and a solo homer in the top of the fourth inning to break up a scoreless game. Senior third baseman Christine Griffith (Upper Saddle River, N.J.) batted 2-for-4 with two runs. Cooney and junior second baseman Andee Lupica (Maywood, N.J.) each had two hits.
 
Sophomore lefty Caitlyn Massaro (Madison, N.J.) was the winner (7-4), tossing her third shutout of the season, striking out seven without issuing a walk and gave up six hits.
 
OF NOTE:

• Series: 46th and 47th meetings William Paterson leads all-time series, 44-3.
• With 108 hits in 126 games, Hannah Gavin (Bordentown, NJ/Bordentown) is tied for 12th with Nicole Scudese, who had 108 hits in 133 games from 1996-99. Gavin passed former teammate Julie Squeo (Carlstadt, NJ/Becton Regional) (106 hits, 134 games, 2015-18) and Stephanie Gomez (106 hits, 152 games, 2018-10, 2012).

 
UP NEXT:
NJCU will head to Alumni Field in Newark, N.J. on Saturday, April 13 when it faces Rutgers-Newark in an NJAC doubleheader.
 
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