CAMDEN, N.J. (April 19, 2025) – The William Paterson University softball team produced a late rally in both games here Saturday as the Pioneers swept a New Jersey Athletic Conference doubleheader against Rutgers University-Camden, 8-5 and 6-4.
 
The Pioneers evened their record at 15-15 overall and 7-7 in the NJAC, while the Scarlet Raptors fell to 4-27 overall and 2-12 in the conference.
 
The Scarlet Raptors continue NJAC play on Tuesday when they travel to Glassboro to face Rowan University in a 2:30 p.m. doubleheader. The Profs are currently ranked second nationally in Division III.
   
In the opening game, sophomore Sammie Friel pitched the first five innings, holding a 3-2 lead, before the first three Pioneers reached base in the top of the sixth inning, tying the game against sophomore Molly Skelly. Friel relieved Skelly and Paterson plated two more runs to grab a 5-3 lead.
 
Rutgers-Camden bounced back with two runs in the bottom of the sixth, scoring one run on a wild pitch and tying the game on an RBI single by sophomore designated player Devyn Jordan.
 
Paterson broke the tie with three runs in the top of the seventh on two walks, a two-run double by junior left fielder Lilah Guthy and an RBI single by senior catcher Kylie Bythrow.
 
Junior Kylie Anthony (1-0) picked up her first decision of the season as the third Paterson pitcher, working 1.2 shutout innings, allowing four hits and one walk, while striking out one.
 
Friel (1-12) took the loss, working seven innings over her split pitching performance. She allowed six hits, six walks and five earned runs, while striking out seven.
 
Guthy had two of the seven hits for Paterson, going 2-for-2 with one run and two RBIs.
 
Junior shortstop Gianna Bauer, sophomore right fielder Kali Baker and senior first baseman Luci Hutchinson had two hits apiece for the Scarlet Raptors, with Hutchinson collecting two RBIs.
   
In the second game, freshman Izzy Carels (0-6) hurled 6.1 strong innings, allowing seven hits and four walks, while striking out two. Only three of the six runs charged to Carels were earned, as Rutgers-Camden made three errors, including two that led directly to three runs.
 
After Paterson plated three runs, two of them unearned, in the second inning to take a 3-1 lead, Rutgers-Camden bounced back with its own three-run rally in the bottom of the frame. The inning included RBI singles by Bauer, sophomore second baseman Madi Carr and Hutchinson.
 
The Raptors held that 4-3 lead until the sixth inning, when two hits and a two-out run-scoring error gave Paterson the lead for good at 5-4. The Pioneers added a run in the seventh inning.
 
Bythrow went 2-for-2 with two runs and three RBIs for the Pioneers, while senior left fielder Lauren Hutchison and freshman second baseman Allison Stein both went 2-for-3.
 
Rutgers-Camden received a 3-for-3 performance from senior left fielder Emily Dubiago, who added one run scored. Jordan, Hutchinson and senior catcher Kendall Lafferty added two hits apiece.
 
Both Dubiago and Hutchinson went 4-for-7 on the day for the Scarlet Raptors, hiking their career hit totals to 99 and 98, respectively. Jordan and Bauer both added three hits.