NEWARK, NJ – Rutgers-Newark closed out its 2009 home slate with a pair of losses to New Jersey Athletic Conference rival William Paterson. The NFCA #24 Pioneers captured the first game of the twinbill 18-2 before taking game two of the doubleheader 8-0 in five innings.

NCAA Box Score and Play-By-Play
WPU 18, Rutgers-Newark 2 (5 Innings)
WPU 8, Rutgers-Newark 0 (5 Innings)

Sophomore second baseman Emily Ibarra and junior Sam Weer led the Scarlet Raiders in game one of the doubleheader with each finishing one-for-two with an RBI. Sophomore centerfielder Jessica Zelaya went one-for-three in the loss, while sophomore Shannon Davis finished one-for two.

Junior centerfielder Christina Zippler staked the Pioneers to an early 2-0 lead after belting her second homer of the season in the top of the first. Sophomore second baseman Lindsey Nadolny followed up Zippler's blast with a roundtripper of her own to put William Paterson up 3-0.

Up 4-0 in the top of the second, senior third baseman Meghan Rielly tallied the Pioneers' third home run of the afternoon, a two-run inside-the-park homerun down the left field line past a diving Amber Affholter, before Zippler connected on her second homer in as many at bats to extend the William Paterson lead to seven.

After a six run top of the third by the Pioneers, the Scarlet Raiders plated their first run of the day on a two-out Ibarra triple that scored sophomore third baseman Ashley Angeli. Rutgers-Newark would tally another run in the bottom half of the fourth on a Weer single to right that scored sophomore Courtney Breauxsaus.

Freshman hurler Michele Graham allowed just two hits and struck out two en route to her 11th win of the season, while Zippler paced the Pioneer attack, going two-for-three with two home runs, three RBIs and three runs scored. Vitale and Reilly combined for three hits, five RBIs and four runs scored, while freshman Raquel Roder went one-for-two, with three RBIs and a run scored.

Freshmen Tina Aita and Kat Renteria recorded the Scarlet Raiders' lone hits in the nightcap, with each finishing one-for-two with a single.

William Paterson took control of the second game early, scoring three runs on two hits and a pair of Scarlet Raiders' errors in the bottom of the first inning, before tallying four runs on four hits capped off by a Heather Mendez RBI triple down the right field line in the second inning, to race out to a 7-0 lead.

The Pioneers would tack on another run in the bottom of the third on an Ana Abourashed single to centerfield to round out the scoring.

Vitale and sophomore Kerrie Mascarelli allowed just two hits in the combined shutout, with each striking out four, while junior shortstop Lacey Santone went one-for-two with an RBI and two runs scored, to lead the William Paterson offense.

Rutgers-Newark will close out its season with a doubleheader against league rival Kean on Saturday April 25.