Softball Splits Regular Season Finale At Mitchell Sunday

NEW LONDON, Conn. – The University of Saint Joseph (USJ) softball team split its regular season doubleheader finale against Mitchell College (MC) in non-conference action Sunday afternoon.

Senior pitcher and captain Alessandra Milardo (Plantsville, Conn.) threw a complete-game, two-hit shutout in game one, while her junior teammate's, third baseman Julia Annecchiarico (Ludlow, Mass.), and left fielder Frankie Ferrante (Southington, Conn.) both went yard to lead the offensive charge, taking game one in a 4-0 decision. In game two, the Mariners were first to strike and took a 2-0 lead, and behind a second chance crack at it from freshman Katelyn Lipsky (Plantsville, Conn.), who struggled a bit in game one, the Mariners were able to limit the damage, holding Saint Joseph scoreless in a 2-0 game two dub.

COACH QUOTE [Jim McKinnon on Sunday's doubleheader and a lookahead at the postseason]
"Our pitching and defense came together today. Julia Annecchiarico and Frankie Ferrante's home runs were key in the first game, along with great pitching again by [Alessandra Milardo]. Overall, we are ready for Norwich. Our pitching and our defense will be there. We need to scratch across three to four runs. If we take advantage of the opportunities given to us, we will be fine. I have tremendous confidence in these 'Road Warriors'." 

GAME ONE

Score: Saint Joseph 4, Mitchell 0
Records: USJ (12-5), MC (7-18)
Location: Alumni Field | New London, Conn.

KEY MOMENTS

• Annecchiarico and Ferrante hit solo home runs in the second and sixth innings to give USJ a little breathing room. Meanwhile, Milardo maintained a good groove in the circle, allowing her first extra-base hit in nearly three full starts, but never found herself in a jam.
• Saint Joseph added two more insurance runs in the seventh on an RBI single and an error. Milardo returned to the circle for the seventh inning to close things out, and did so with a 1-2-3 inning.

IN THE CIRCLE

USJ – Milardo is now 4-3 on the season with three straight wins. She allowed just two hits in seven innings, and struck out 11, her third double-digit strikeout game of the season.

MC – Lipsky was dealt the loss (6-9), allowing four runs (3 ER) on five hits in a complete game, striking out nine.

GAME TWO

Score: Saint Joseph 0, Mitchell 2
Records: USJ (12-6), MC (8-18)
Location: Alumni Field | New London, Conn.

KEY MOMENTS

• The Mariners scored a run in the second and third innings respectively on an RBI single and double, the latter from senior center fielder Laurissa Amaker (North Haven, Conn.). 2-0 MC after three.
• Saint Joseph's best crack at it came in the sixth inning on a leadoff double from Milardo. The Blue Jays pinch-ran sophomore Jenna Masiello (Cromwell, Conn.), but the lineup was unable to get her any closer than third base. Lipsky got out of the jam in the seventh as well with the Blue Jays getting a runner to second.

IN THE CIRCLE

USJ – Annecchiarico was solid overall, allowing just two runs (1 ER) on five hits in six innings of work, but did not get the run support she needed in this outing (1-2).

MC – Lipsky was lights-out in game two, allowing five hits and striking out seven in a complete-game shutout.

UP NEXT
The Blue Jays have earned the No. 3 seed in the upcoming Great Northeast Athletic Conference Tournament, and will host No. 6 Norwich University in the GNAC Softball Tournament Quarterfinals at home on the USJ Softball Field. First pitch is set for 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 4. The tournament will follow an all-new single elimination format until the championship round which will be best 2-of-3.

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