Blue Jays Take Sunday Setback To Saints

BOSTON, Mass. – The University of Saint Joseph (USJ) softball team was swept Sunday in doubleheader action against the Saints of Emmanuel College (EC), dropping game one 4-3, before falling 10-5 in game two, in a Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) doubleheader Sunday afternoon at Roberto Clemente Field.

GAME ONE
Score: Saint Joseph 3, Emmanuel 4
Records: USJ 11-9 (2-5 GNAC), EC 6-9 (3-0 GNAC)
Location: Roberto Clemente Field | Boston, Mass.

KEY MOMENTS

• Game one a back-and-forth battle that saw multiple lead changes on its way to a walk-off finish. Senior Riley Mulligan (Lincoln, R.I.) was on-point in the opening contest hitting 3-for-3 with a home run. Senior captain Frankie Ferrante (Southington, Conn.) also homered, with both long balls coming in the top of the fourth inning. The score remained even at two into the final inning of play.
• The Blue Jays scored the go-ahead run in the top of the seventh on a single to right field by freshman Brianna Catalani (Watertown, Conn.), scoring Mulligan. USJ led 3-2 entering the bottom half, but the Saints rallied with a massive final frame, which included two runs on two hits and an error. No outs were recorded as a walk, error, steal, single, walk and single gave the hosts the walk-off win. Senior Renae Lacroix (Cumberland, R.I.) had the game-winning hit.

IN THE CIRCLE

USJ – Freshman Amanda Savinelli (New Haven, Conn.) was dealt the loss (4-7), allowing four runs (2 ER) on nine hits in six-plus innings of work.

EC – Senior Grace Orcutt (Lexington, Mass.) improved to 3-0 this season with 0.2 innings of relief, striking out both batters faced. Junior Tianna Dawe (Lynn, Mass.) struck out four in 6.1 innings, allowing three runs on seven hits in a no decision.

GAME TWO
Score: Saint Joseph 5, Emmanuel 10
Records: USJ 11-10 (2-6 GNAC), EC 7-9 (4-0 GNAC)
Location: Roberto Clemente Field | Boston, Mass.

KEY MOMENTS

• In game two, the Blue Jays loaded the bases in the opening frame, and who else but Mulligan to drive in the game's opening run (on a single down the left field line). It ignited a three-run opening inning for the visitors, who were out to get their offense back, and back in a big way. Unfortunately for USJ, Emmanuel's pitching settled in, and the Blue Jays would not score again until the final inning.
• The Saints chipped away and tied it at three after four innings. Their offense exploded though in the penultimate inning as seven runs scored on seven hits, including a two-run home run and two doubles. Down 10-3 into the seventh, USJ found the bats once more with two runs to make it 10-5. The visitors simply ran out of outs.

IN THE CIRCLE

USJ – Savinelli took the loss in game two in relief (4-8), allowing the go-ahead run in a tie game, and four hits in just over an inning of work. Sophomore Adriana Quealy (East Hartford, Conn.) pitched three innings as the starter and allowed three runs (1 ER) on five hits. Senior Natalie Amato (Cheshire, Conn.) also pitched an inning in relief.

EC – Orcutt started game two and went only an inning (3 H, 3 ER, 3 BB, 2 K). Freshman Brenna Whittaker (Cranston, R.I.) improved to 3-4 with a six-inning, four-hit, two-run effort, striking out four.

COACH QUOTE [Jim McKinnon] "We were in both games and fought throughout. Two big home runs by Frankie Ferrante and Riley Mulligan, and Jenna Masiello had a good day at the plate. Our offense is starting to jell again and I feel we will turn our season around soon enough."

UP NEXT
The Blue Jays will be back in action in a non-conference doubleheader on Wednesday, April 13 at 3:00 and 5:00 p.m. against the Bantams of Trinity College on the USJ Softball Field.

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