SCRANTON, Pa. – The University of Scranton softball team (5-7) dropped a pair of contests to the William Paterson Pioneers (11-1) in a home opener doubleheader on Tuesday afternoon at Magis Field in Scranton.

The Royals dropped a 3-2 heartbreaker in game one and fell 7-1 in the nightcap.

Game One

Trailing 3-2 in the last of the seventh, the Royals used a pair of singles and a walk to load the bases with two outs but Jaelynn Miller got a popout to end the threat and help the Pioneers hang on.

William Paterson had taken the lead with a run in the sixth as Anna Nunziato was hit by a pitch to start the inning and later came around to score on an RBI groundout from Gianna Mulato.

Sophomore Emma Tirollo (Orange, Conn./Amity Regional) was dealt the tough-luck loss for Scranton as she allowed three runs on just four hits to go along with four walks and six strikeouts in a complete game effort.

Miller surrendered two runs (one earned) on four hits while walking two and fanning seven in 7.0 IP to record the win for William Paterson.

The Royals opened the scoring in the home half of the third as sophomore Kylie Rochford (Tinton Falls, N.J./Red Bank Catholic) was hit by a pitch, stole second and scored on an RBI double from junior Jessica Stadler (Monmouth Junction, N.J./South Brunswick). Stadler then took third on a wild pitch and scored on an error charged to Pioneers RF Gabby Brancaccio.

In the top of the fifth, the Pioneers started the inning with a walk and hit by pitch which led the way for a game-tying two-run single.

Game Two

Jillian Bigos started game two for the visitors with a solo shot to left and William Paterson added insurance runs in the later innings for the victory.

The Pioneers added a solo run in the third and later scored in each of the final three innings.

Freshman Carley Noble (Allentown, N.J./Allentown) surrendered three runs on eight hits over 5 1/3 IP in her third career start for the Royals. Sophomore Hannah Keane (Randolph, N.J./Randolph) fired a scoreless inning in relief of Noble.

Scranton got on the board with a run in the fifth that cut the lead to 3-1 for the time being as senior Alyssa Segnello (Flanders, N.J./Mount Olive) reached with a two-out single and scored on an RBI triple from sophomore Madison DeStefano (Spring Brook Twp., Pa./North Pocono).

Lilah Guthy gave up a run on four hits and struck out one in a complete game effort for William Paterson.

Two different players tripled in the contest for Scranton as DeStefano delivered the afore-mentioned one in the fifth and senior Lauren Cawley (Duryea, Pa./Scranton Prep) added one in the seventh. 

The Royals will open Landmark Conference play with a doubleheader on Saturday at Drew and first pitch of game one is slated for 1 p.m.

--ROYALS--