Softball Opens 2022 Season With Two Wins In Myrtle Beach

NORTH MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. – The University of Saint Joseph (USJ) softball team got off to a great start to open the 2022 season, earning a pair of victories on Sunday in its first day of competition at the Fastpitch Dreams Spring Classic at the North Myrtle Beach Sports Complex in South Carolina. The Blue Jays took down the Rutgers University-Newark (RUNW) Scarlet Knights in extra innings, 6-5, in the opener before cruising to an 11-3 triumph in five innings over the Sarah Lawrence College (SLC) Gryphons in game two.
 
GAME ONE
Score: Saint Joseph 6, Rutgers-Newark 5 (9 Innings)
Records: USJ (1-0), RUNW (0-1)
Location: NMB Sports Complex - Field 5 | North Myrtle Beach, S.C.

KEY MOMENTS

• The Blue Jays got on the scoreboard first and pushed across a run in the top half of the very first inning of the season. Freshman Jenna Zup (Berlin, Conn.) walked and then stole second before junior Liliana Stoddard (Waterford, Conn.) drove Zup in with a two-out RBI single through the right side.
• Rutgers-Newark answered right back though with a run in the bottom half of the opening inning on a RBI single by junior Megan Tomaselli (Bound Brook, N.J.) to level the score.
• Both teams scored one run each in the third inning. Stoddard registered her second RBI of the day with a sacrifice fly for the Blue Jays, while junior Michelle McMillan (Randolph, N.J.) ripped a drive to left field and raced all the way around the bases for an inside-the-park homerun for the Scarlet Knights.
• USJ punched right back and opened up its largest lead with a three-run fourth inning. After back-to-back singles to start the frame, senior Kacy O'Connor (Milford, Conn.) delivered a RBI groundout followed by a RBI single from junior Amanda Jacobs (New Britain, Conn.) to make it 4-2. Three batters latter, senior Frankie Ferrante (Southington, Conn.) came up clutch and laced a two-out RBI single to right center to build 5-2 lead and complete the scoring in the inning.
• Saint Joseph took a 5-3 lead into the bottom of the seventh inning. It looked like it was going to be USJ's ballgame, but a two-run homer by the Scarlet Knights tied the game and shifted the momentum. The game was headed to extra innings.
• The Blue Jays had runners on second and third in the eighth, but could not bring in the go-ahead run. Freshman pitcher Amanda Savinelli (New Haven, Conn.) came in though and took care of business in the circle. Saint Joseph finally broke through in the ninth frame, as Jacobs reached on an error, scoring sophomore outfielder Isabel Milardo (Middlefield, Conn.). Savinelli came back in the ninth inning and mowed down the Scarlet Knights to complete an epic first game for USJ down in Myrtle Beach.

IN THE CIRCLE

USJ – Savinelli picked up the win (1-0) in two innings of relief, retiring all six of the batters she faced in extra innings, not allowing a single hit. Senior pitcher Natalie Amato (Cheshire, Conn.) threw 4.2 innings in the first start of the 2022 season (6 H, 3 ER, 8 K), while sophomore pitcher Adriana Quealy (East Hartford, Conn.) also threw multiple innings in relief for the Blue Jays.

RUNW – Senior pitcher Michelle Capizzano (Kenilworth, N.J.) was dealt the loss (0-1), allowing four runs on seven hits in four and two-thirds innings. She also struck out a game-high nine on the day. Sophomore pitcher Madison DiGiorgio (Cedar Knolls, N.J.) came on in relief and was responsible for the winning run.

GAME TWO
Score: Sarah Lawrence College 3, Saint Joseph 11 (5 Innings)
Records: SLC (0-2), USJ (2-0)
Location: NMB Sports Complex - Field 5 | North Myrtle Beach, S.C.

KEY MOMENTS

• The Blue Jays exploded in the second inning for eight runs to blow this game wide open. Already up 1-0 and starting back in the circle in game two, Savinelli did herself a favor and banged an RBI triple to center field. It sparked what would be one of the best individual innings in recent memory for USJ.
• The second inning was highlighted by an inside the park grand slam from Milardo to make it 8-0 Saint Joseph. The Blue Jays tacked on another to make it 9-0 after two.
• Sarah Lawrence chipped away at it but could not overcome the deficit. Still the game was very much alive heading to the bottom of the fifth. USJ put the hammer down though and ended it under the mercy rule after five, first on an RBI single from Zup, and the final run on a single to center by senior Abigail Dillon (Portland, Conn.).

IN THE CIRCLE

USJ – Savinelli picked up the win once again (2-0) in four innings in the start, allowing just a single hit in a four-inning shutout. Freshman Alexis Faucher (Killingly, Conn.) also pitched an inning for USJ.

SLC – Senior Bailey Nguyen (Portland, Ore.) took the loss (0-2), allowing 11 runs (5 ER) on 10 hits. She did strike out eight in the effort.

COACH QUOTE [Jim McKinnon]
"We played good all around games today. The pitching, hitting, defense, it was all there for us. I was really impressed with the lead we built in the first game. We had it, lost it, and came back to win it. That is a huge confidence booster for our team. It was a good way to start the season."

UP NEXT
The Blue Jays now prepare for a one-game day two down in Myrtle Beach after their first official day was canceled due to weather. Their next opponent is Division II school Franklin Pierce. That matchup will be at 6:00 p.m. on Monday, March 14. Head over to www.usjbluejays.com to catch all the action live!

Follow USJ Athletics
For the latest on University of Saint Joseph Athletics, follow the Blue Jays on social media on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.

Fans can also download the USJ Front Row Mobile App and subscribe to our Newsletter and Text Alerts. #FearTheFlock #GoBlueJays