WAYNE, N.J. (April 21, 2026) – Both the Rutgers University-Camden and William Paterson University softball teams entered their New Jersey Athletic Conference doubleheader here Tuesday with 3-11 NJAC records, hoping to break a deadlock between them and move up the NJAC standings.
 
Paterson is the team that succeeded in that mission as the Pioneers swept the conference twinbill, 6-3 and 7-0, to improve to 17-18 overall and 5-11 in the NJAC. Rutgers-Camden fell to 8-20 and 3-13.
 
The Scarlet Raptors host Widener University in a 3 p.m. non-conference doubleheader on Thursday.
   
The Scarlet Raptors scored three times in the top of the third inning to take a 3-0 lead, sparked by a leadoff single from junior center fielder Kali Baker. Second baseman Gianna Bauer, who has junior eligibility but is a senior academically, reached on a sacrifice bunt when Paterson's third baseman committed an error, and the Raptors' junior third baseman Alana Gannon singled to load the bases. Sophomore catcher Madi Carr followed with an RBI single and a pair of fielder's choices produced two more runs, hit by freshmen right fielder Lilia Ortiz and first baseman Kaede Walsh.
 
Paterson countered in the bottom of the inning with four runs on three hits, two walks and a sacrifice fly. The Pioneers added an unearned run in the fourth inning and another run in the sixth against Scarlet Raptor junior Sammie Friel (5-9). Friel finished her six-inning complete game allowing eight hits and six runs (five earned), while walking two and striking out two.
 
Paterson sophomore Aubrey Miller allowed six hits in her complete game effort, walking three and striking out six. One of the runs she allowed was unearned.
 
Carr went 3-for-3 with a walk and one RBI for the Raptors, while Gannon was 2-for-4 and scored a run.
 
Paterson received two hits from senior center fielder Brandi Shortway and sophomore designated player Stephanie Ciravolo.
   
The Pioneers scored three unearned runs in the third inning on two hits and two errors to break open a 0-0 deadlock. They added four more runs in the fourth inning on a walk and four hits, including two-run singles by Ciravolo and senior shortstop Hailey Backo.
 
Sophomore second baseman Kelsey Geurts went 2-for-3 with two runs scored to lead the nine-hit William Paterson attack, while Backo was 1-for-4 with two runs and two RBIs.
 
The Scarlet Raptors only managed five hits off Paterson senior starter Lilah Guthy (6-7) and senior reliever Kylie Anthony. Guthy worked 4.1 innings, allowing three hits and striking out one. Anthony worked 2.2 innings, allowing two hits. The lone Raptor extra-base hit was a double by Gannon.
 
Raptor junior starter Anna Milillo (1-7) took the loss, working three innings and allowing six hits, three walks and six runs, three of them unearned. She struck out one.