JERSEY CITY, N.J. | The New Jersey City University (NJCU) softball team fell to William Paterson in the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) regular season finale, 9-4, and 6-2.

Game 1: William Paterson 9, NJCU 4

NJCU (4-29, 2-15) scattered six hits and tallied three errors in the loss. Danika Borza (Keyport, N.J./Keyport) led the team, going 3-for-3, while Emma Hanlon (Highland, N.Y./Highland) finished 1-for-4 with a team-high 2 RBI.

William Paterson (20-18, 6-11) tallied 13 hits, led by Hailey Backo (4-for-4), while Megan Tinger recorded 4 RBIs.

Backo opened the scoring in the first inning via an RBI single up the middle before adding a pair in the top of the third. The Gothic Knights erupted for four runs in the bottom of the frame when Hanlon hit a 2 RBI single to right-center to cut the deficit down to one. Hanlon then scored after the Pioneers' defense tried to catch Natalie Rosales (Union City, N.J./Jose Marti STEM Academy) stealing second. Rosales then scored when Emma Grochowski (Baldwin, N.Y./Baldwin) grounded out to put NJCU ahead.

The Pioneers answered with four runs in the top of the following frame to regain the lead before adding two in the seventh to hold onto the win.

Game 2: William Paterson 6, NJCU 2

NJCU (4-30, 2-16) recorded seven hits in the second game, led by Borza and Arianna Figueroa (Jersey City, N.J./Hudson Catholic Regional), who each tallied two hits.

William Paterson (21-18, 7-11) used 13 hits, led by a trio of hits by Lilah Guthy.

Once again, the Pioneers cracked open their scoring ledger in the top of the first, plating two runs thanks to a sacrifice fly and a single up the middle. Elyze Lopez (Reseda, Calif./John F. Kennedy) got the Gothic Knights on the board in the next frame with an RBI double.

William Paterson padded its lead with a run in the third before scoring another three runs in the seventh to secure the win.

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