Softball Wins Big, Sweeps Norwich On Sunny Sunday Senior Day

WEST HARTFORD, Conn. – The University of Saint Joseph (USJ) softball team split a Sunday doubleheader against the Cadets of Norwich University (NOR), taking game one in a dominant performance, 8-0, before dropping game two 4-2, in a Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) doubleheader on the USJ Softball Field, on a sunny Senior Day.

Prior to Sunday's games, the USJ Department of Athletics, including Director of Athletics Amanda Devitt, recognized the senior softball class of 2022. Seniors Frankie Ferrante (Southington, Conn.), Natalie Amato (Cheshire, Conn.), Abigail Dillon (Portland, Conn.), Kacy O'Connor (Milford, Conn.), and Riley Mulligan (Lincoln, R.I.) were all honored in a pregame ceremony.

GAME ONE
Score: Norwich 0, Saint Joseph 8 (Five Innings)
Records: NOR 8-19 (1-12 GNAC), USJ 17-17 (7-8 GNAC)
Location: USJ Softball Field | West Hartford, Conn.
Notes: Senior Day

KEY MOMENTS

• Game one was put in the hands of Amato who threw her second gem in as many days, this time on the back of a career-high 13 strikeouts. 13 of a 15 possible outs came by way of the strikeout, the other two a lineout and a sacrifice bunt.
• It was a one-hit shutout for Amato, while the Blue Jays bats got going in a big way scoring seven runs in the fourth frame. Freshman Jenna Zup (Berlin, Conn.) had a bases-clearing double to drive in three, and O'Connor had two hits including an RBI single down the left field line which iced it for USJ, picking up its eighth run of the game, ending the contest under the mercy rule.

IN THE CIRCLE

NOR – Sophomore Annika Beebe (Marianna, Fla.) was dealt the loss (3-4), allowing four runs (1 ER) on one hit in four innings of play, striking out four. Norwich had four errors in total which presented challenges to those in the circle. Freshman Kennedy White (Randolph Center, Vt.) pitched the final inning and allowed five hits with one strikeout.

USJ – Amato moved to 4-2 and fanned a career-high 13 batters of a possible 15. She threw a one-hit shutout in five innings of work.

GAME TWO
Score: Norwich 3, Saint Joseph 11 (Six Innings)
Records: NOR 8-20 (1-13), USJ 18-17 (8-8 GNAC)
Location: USJ Softball Field | West Hartford, Conn.
Notes: Senior Day

KEY MOMENTS

• A scoreless three innings kicked things off in game two with both pitchers and defenses dialed in. The Cadets struck first in this one on a three-run fourth inning, first on an RBI single from freshman Sydney Wood (Proctor, Vt.), and later two runs scored on a sacrifice bunt and throwing error. Norwich held a 3-0 lead, and eventually 3-1, into the bottom of the fifth inning.

• The fifth frame was the deciding factor in game two as the Blue Jays put up eight runs on three hits and two errors. Freshman Alexandra Silver (Vernon, Conn.) was on-point in the second game hitting 2-for-2 with a two RBI double to catapult the run. USJ ended up with a 9-3 lead after five, and carried the momentum into the sixth even with a trio of pinch-hitters. The game-ending hit came on a double by O'Connor, then a bases-loaded walk by junior Jenna Masiello (Cromwell, Conn.), who hung tough on a payoff pitch.

IN THE CIRCLE

NOR – Junior Allison Northup (Westerly, R.I.) dipped to 2-4, allowing nine runs (3 ER) on six hits in 4.2 innings of play, striking out a pair. Freshman Maren McGinn (Georgia, Vt.) pitched an inning of relief and allowed three hits and two runs (two strikeouts).

USJ – Freshman Amanda Savinelli (New Haven, Conn.) picked up the win (8-11), allowing three runs on seven hits in six innings of work. She also struck out five in the victory.

PLAYER QUOTE [Kacy O'Connor]
"It has been an awesome experience. Our team is great, they are always up in the dugout cheering everyone on. It just makes being at USJ what it is all about. I am so proud of all of our seniors for their efforts today."

PLAYER QUOTE [Natalie Amato]
"It's been difficult this season but I am glad that I'm back out here. It has been a great senior day. Everyone has been very supportive. It's good to have that energy, good to have Kacy O'Connor behind the plate. When you have that confidence in your team and your catcher, it makes it a lot easier to do well out there."

COACH QUOTE [Jim McKinnon]
"When you get somebody like Natalie Amato out there and pitch like that, it gets everbody going. We knew we had a good shot at it. We some key hits, but it all starts with pitching and catching between Natalie and Kacy O'Connor, how they work together, and of course our defense. It was good play all the way around, especially on Senior Day."

UP NEXT
Saint Joseph's final home game of the season is up next; a non-conference matchup against the Cardinals of Wesleyan University. The action starts on Wednesday, April 27 at 4:30 p.m. on the USJ Softball Field. Fans who can't make it can head to www.usjbluejays.com to keep up with all the action.

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