Blue Jays Split GNAC Doubleheader With Lasell Monday

NEWTON, Mass. – The University of Saint Joseph (USJ) softball team split a doubleheader with the Lasers of Lasell University (LU), claiming game one 2-1, before taking an 11-3 setback in a five-inning game two, in a Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) doubleheader Monday afternoon on Taylor Field. 

GAME ONE
Score: Lasell 1, Saint Joseph 2
Records: LU 7-10 (1-2 GNAC), USJ 10-4 (2-1 GNAC)
Location: Taylor Field | Newton, Mass.

KEY MOMENTS

• Game one was once again a pitcher's duel as senior Natalie Amato (Cheshire, Conn.) brought her best stuff to Newton, Mass. Monday. She struck out nine batters and allowed only one hit. Freshman Meghan Theall (Billerica, Mass.) was also impressive going six innings and striking out three. The first five innings were a scoreless stalemate as neither team could advance a runner home.
• The sixth inning proved to be the decider, as all three runs crossed home in the stanza. The Lasers had one out with the bases loaded, leaving it up to sophomore Adriana Quealy (East Hartford, Conn.) to get Saint Joseph out of the jam. Lasell could only manage one run on a foul out, as Quealy forced back-to-back fly outs to end the inning and minimize the damage.
• In the bottom of the sixth, USJ uncorked a pair of runs despite being down to their last out of the frame. Junior Liliana Stoddard (Waterford, Conn.) reached on an error, while freshman Brianna Catalani (Watertown, Conn.) reached on a two-out single to score the go-ahead run. Lasell went down 1-2-3 with three groundouts in the seventh, as USJ took a 2-1 win.

IN THE CIRCLE

LU – Theall was dealt the loss (2-6), allowing two runs (0 ER) on three hits in six innings of work.

USJ – Quealy picked up the win in an inning of relief (4-0), allowing one run on two hits in a follow up to Amato's 9K dominance. Freshman Amanda Savinelli (New Haven, Conn.) picked up her second save of the season with a perfect seventh inning.

GAME TWO
Score: Lasell 11, Saint Joseph 3 (5 innings)
Records: LU 8-10 (2-2 GNAC), USJ 10-5 (2-2 GNAC)
Location: Taylor Field | Newton, Mass.

KEY MOMENTS

• Stoddard started things off strong with a single through the right side, as USJ took a 1-0 lead early. It would wind up being its only lead of the game though as the Lasers got hot with a three-run second; a three-run blast to left field by freshman Mackenzie Still (Middleboro, Mass.), followed by a three-RBI triple in the fourth. Lasell totaled 13 hits for its 11 runs, and scored three runs or more across three innings.
• USJ trailed 11-1 entering the bottom of the fifth, its last chance to get runs on the board before the mercy rule kicked in. The Blue Jays did not give up, as freshman Alexandra Silver (Vernon, Conn.) launched her first career home run, a two-run shot to make it 11-3. USJ could must no more though, as a pair of outs that followed ended the game in five innings.

IN THE CIRCLE

LU – Freshman Erin Sheeley (Billerica, Mass.) picked up the win (5-4), with a three-hit, three-run, five inning effort, striking out nine to match Amato's game-one performance for USJ.

USJ – Savinelli received the loss (4-4) allowing seven runs on eight hits in 3.2 innings of work, striking out two.

COACH QUOTE [Jim McKinnon] 
"Natalie Amato pitched very well, and it was great to see Amanda Savinelli close it out again for us. This was a grind it out type of day winning that first game. The second game was a lot tougher for us, things came apart quick and we couldn't do much against their pitching. We got the split, and we will clean things up and improve every game."

UP NEXT
The Blue Jays will be competing in non-conference action next in a doubleheader against the Bloodhounds of John Jay College on Tuesday, April 5. The action kicks off at 3:00 and 5:00 p.m. respectively on the USJ Softball Field. This will be the first-ever meeting between the teams.

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