Softball Falls Twice To Intrastate Foe Trinity Wednesday

WEST HARTFORD, Conn. – The University of Saint Joseph (USJ) softball team was swept Wednesday afternoon in doubleheader action against the Bantams of Trinity College (TC), dropping game one 5-2, before falling 12-3 in game two, in a non-conference doubleheader at the USJ Softball Field.

GAME ONE
Score: Trinity 5, Saint Joseph 2
Records: TC 14-6, USJ 11-11
Location: USJ Softball Field | West Hartford, Conn.

KEY MOMENTS

• Both pitchers brought their best stuff through four innings, with a combined five hits and no runs between the two squads. The Bantams broke through first with a four-hit, three-run fourth frame, scoring all three runs with two outs. Sophomore Gianna Tito (East Hanover, N.J.) completed the inning with an RBI single, which wound up scoring a second run on the throw to make it 3-0.
• The Blue Jays came up next looking for redemption. It came in the form of senior captain Frankie Ferrante (Southington, Conn.), who hit her second home run in as many games to get the home team back in the ballgame, trailing 3-2 through six.
• Just when it looked like the momentum had swung, Trinity saved its best hand for last scoring two runs in succession to regain its three-run advantage. The Bantams went 5-for-12 (.417) with two outs in game one. After Tito reached on a fielder's choice to make it runners on first and second, sophomore Kennedy Rogers (Pomona, Calif.) doubled to left center, scoring two.
• Senior Riley Mulligan (Lincoln, R.I.) made another acrobatic catch in center in game one to follow up her diving grab against Albertus Magnus April 9. Mulligan opened up the bottom of the seventh with a single to the pitcher in an effort to aid the rally. It would be short lived though as two groundouts followed to end game one. Trinity leadoff hitters finished the game 5-for-7 (USJ 1-7).

IN THE CIRCLE

TC – Senior Jordan Stephan (South Orange, N.J.) picked up the win (7-2) with a season-high 11 strikeouts. She allowed two runs on six hits in a complete game.

USJ – Freshman Amanda Savinelli (New Haven, Conn.) was dealt the loss (4-9), allowing five runs (5 ER) on 11 hits in seven innings of work.

GAME TWO
Score: Trinity 12, Saint Joseph 3
Records: TC 15-6, USJ 11-12
Location: USJ Softball Field | West Hartford, Conn.

KEY MOMENTS

• In game two, the Bantams once again opened up the scoring with four runs on seven hits over the first two frames. Tito got it started on an RBI single, the first of four straight singles. 4-0 Trinity after two.

• The Blue Jays stayed patient at the plate but could not get the run production needed to keep this one in striking distance, as Trinity kept the pressure on scoring at least one run in every inning.
• Down 12-0 into the fifth and needing at least five, USJ continued to fight as the first run came across on a fielder's choice and error, the ball put in play by freshman shortstop Jenna Zup (Berlin, Conn.), who quitely put together a well-played doubleheader in the field. USJ kept the rally going as junior Liliana Stoddard (Waterford, Conn.) ripped a single to left center field to score a pair and make it 12-3, with two outs. Two batters later with runners on first and second, Freshman Elaina Previty (Pawcatuck, Conn.) got her shot to hit. A good at-bat wasn't enough though as USJ ran out of time and was unable to extend the game, ending it after five under the mercy rule.

IN THE CIRCLE

TC – Sophomore Tiffany Stowers (Burke, Va.) (5-3) was on-point throughout in this one, throwing all five innings and allowing just the one run on three hits. She also struck out three.

USJ –Sophomore Adriana Quealy (East Hartford, Conn.) took the loss (5-2), allowing five runs on nine hits in three innings pitched. Previty pitched a pair of innings in relief.  

COACH QUOTE [Jim McKinnon]
"There were definitely some bright spots in this one. Frankie Ferrante hit that huge home run in game one, she is really driving the ball for us this year. Amanda Savinelli just continues to come in, and one game after another, she continues to throw that same exact pitch. Trinity is a good team and they do a great job over there with the program. The second game got away from us a bit, but I really appreciate how we continued to hustle. Riley Mulligan is making huge plays in the outfield regardless of the score. She is playing hard, and that is infectious throughout the whole team."

UP NEXT
The Blue Jays will be back in action with another non-conference doubleheader, this time on the road, on Thursday, April 14 at 12:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. against Western Connecticut State University for their second-straight intrastate matchup.

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