Softball Splits Saturday GNAC Doubleheader

STOORS, Conn. – The University of Saint Joseph (USJ) softball team split a doubleheader with the Blazers of Elms College (ELMS), dropping game one 7-3, before storming back in an 8-0 victory in a five-inning game two, in a Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) doubleheader Saturday afternoon at Burrill Family Field, on the campus of UConn.
 
GAME ONE
Score: Elms 7, Saint Joseph 3
Records: ELMS 6-5 (1-0 GNAC), USJ 8-4 (0-1 GNAC)
Location: Burrill Family Field | Stoors, Conn.

KEY MOMENTS

• The Blazers got ahead with a three-run third to start the scoring in this one, as three straight extra-base hits gave the visitors all the momentum. Senior Sofie Oliveira (Windsor Locks, Conn.) capped it with a double to right center to make it 3-0 after three.
• The Blue Jays did their best to chip away at it, but could only muster two runs over the next three innings. Senior Riley Mulligan (Lincoln, R.I.) got the scoring going for USJ with a double to right-center. Senior captain Frankie Ferrante (Southington, Conn.) added a sacrifice fly in the fifth, but Elms had already added another run, making it 4-2 through five.
• Elms tacked on three more runs in the top of the seventh to seal the deal, coming off two doubles in the inning. USJ came up in the bottom half needing a rally, as Ferrante grabbed another RBI on her second Sac Fly of the day, but it just wasn't enough in a 7-3 decision.

IN THE CIRCLE

ELMS – Freshman Jayden Dow (Springfield, Conn.) moved to 4-3 with a seven-hit, three-run (2 ER), complete game performance, striking out four.

USJ – Freshman Amanda Savinelli (New Haven, Conn.) received the loss (4-3) in four and a third innings of work, allowing four runs on eight hits with two strikeouts. Sophomore Adriana Quealy (East Hartford, Conn.) pitched two-plus innings in relief.

GAME TWO
Score: Elms 0, Saint Joseph 8 (5 innings)
Records: ELMS 6-6 (1-1 GNAC), USJ 9-4 (1-1 GNAC)
Location: Burrill Family Field | Stoors, Conn.

KEY MOMENTS

• Game two saw senior Natalie Amato (Cheshire, Conn.) dominate all foes who stepped into the batter's box, as she mowed down batter after batter fanning 12 overall. The Blue Jays offense erupted in the meantime, as Ferrante stayed sharp on the day with a two-run homer to left in the first, and reaching on an error in the third to score more runs and spark a scoring sequence. Mulligan and senior Kacy O'Connor (Milford, Conn.) also made critical contributions in this one to make it 6-0 USJ after three, four of which came in the third.
• The Blue Jays never took their foot off the gas pedal as two more runs crossed the plate in the fourth and fifth innings respectively to end the game under the mercy rule. O'Connor added to the tally on USJ's third sacrifice fly of the afternoon, while junior Jenna Masiello (Cromwell, Conn.) wrapped this game up with a single to left. USJ nearly doubled its hits total from game one (seven in game one, 12 in game two) in addition to more than doubling its run output.

IN THE CIRCLE

ELMS – Sophomore Mackenzie Alvarado (Plainville, Conn.) dipped to 2-3 with 12 hits and eight runs (7 ER) in four and two thirds innings pitched, striking out two.

USJ – Amato pitched a spectacular game for the Blue Jays – a one-hitter with a season-best 12 strikeouts in five innings of play, shutting out the Blazers in the process. Amato is now 2-1 so far this season.

COACH QUOTE [Jim McKinnon] 
"We had chances in the first game. We hit some balls hard, but they made the plays on defense. We needed to come back strong in the second game and we did thought. Great job by Natalie Amato and some timely hitting. Frankie Ferrante had the home run to start it off and we took it from there. Conference games will be a battle."

UP NEXT
The Blue Jays continue their Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) schedule with a home doubleheader against the Lasers of Lasell University. The action kicks off doubleheader style at 3:00 and 5:00 p.m. respectively on the USJ Softball Field.

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