Softball Bests Bulldogs Saturday Ahead Of GNAC Postseason

PAXTON, Mass. – The University of Saint Joseph (USJ) softball team swept a Saturday doubleheader against the Bulldogs of Dean College (DEAN), taking games one and two, 8-2 and 6-0 respectively, in a Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) doubleheader at the Longley Athletic Complex, in the team's regular-season finale.

With the wins, USJ concludes the regular season with a solid 20-18 mark including 10-8 in the league, having won its final eight conference games to lock in a playoff spot. The team earned the three-seed in the South Division of the GNAC and will host four-seeded Regis College on Tuesday, May 3 at 4:00 p.m. in the GNAC Tournament First Round. The one-game playoff will determine the final team from the south who will play in the second round of the playoffs, hosted by top-seeded Albertus Magnus College on Thursday, May 5.

GAME ONE
Score: Saint Joseph 8, Dean 2
Records: USJ 19-18 (9-8 GNAC), DEAN 6-23 (3-14 GNAC)
Location: Longley Athletic Complex | Paxton, Mass.

KEY MOMENTS

• Game one was a tight game through the first six innings of play, with USJ clinging to a 3-2 lead as the hosts, down 3-0, put up a run in the fifth and sixth innings respectively. Then the avalanche came for the visitors scoring five runs in the final frame to put the game away. Freshman Jenna Zup (Berlin, Conn.) led the game-one charge hitting 3-for-4 with three singles, a run and a stolen base. Freshman Brianna Catalani (Watertown, Conn.) had a pair of doubles, while senior captain Frankie Ferrante (Southington, Conn.) added a triple and two RBI. The Bulldogs scored two runs on six hits, four coming off the bats of the senior duo of Miranda Seacord (Cambridge, N.Y.) and Shelby Smith (Southwick, Mass.), but it wasn't enough.

IN THE CIRCLE

USJ – Freshman Amanda Savinelli (New Haven, Conn.) hung tough throughout the afternoon throwing another complete game, this one resulting in her ninth win of the season (9-12). She allowed just two runs on six hits in seven, striking out six.

DEAN – Senior Avellaka Arviso (Hemet, Calif.) took the loss (2-5), allowing eight runs (6 ER) on 12 hits in six innings, striking out one. Junior Zoe Coleman (Warwick, R.I.) also saw an inning of action for the hosts.

GAME TWO
Score: Saint Joseph 6, Dean 0
Records: USJ 20-18 (10-8 GNAC), DEAN 6-24 (3-15 GNAC)
Location: Longley Athletic Complex | Paxton, Mass.

KEY MOMENTS

• Game two was all about the work in the circle once again by senior Natalie Amato (Cheshire, Conn.) who struck out an incomparable 16 batters on the way to another shutout. Dean could only muster three hits in seven innings of play as the Blue Jays slowly but surely tacked runs on the board. Four doubles did the trick, with junior Jenna Masiello (Cromwell, Conn.) also getting in the mix with two RBI. The exta base hits came off the bats of senior Abigail Dillon (Portland, Conn.), who was on fire with a 3-for-4 day in the batter's box, as well as sophomore Isabel Milardo (Middlefield, Conn.), who had a pair of them in the process. Senior captain Riley Mulligan (Lincoln, R.I.) was 2-of-3 with a double as well.

IN THE CIRCLE

DEAN – Coleman, who came in for an inning in game one, was the starter in game two, and dipped to 2-7 on the year, allowing six runs (3 ER) on 14 hits in seven innings, walking two and fanning three.

USJ – Amato threw seven innings of three-hit ball with a career-high 16 strikeouts on the game. She also had no walks and moved to 5-2 on the season.

COACH QUOTE [Jim McKinnon]
"I am proud of our team— coming back from a 2-8 conference record to win eight straight and finish 10-8. That was good enough for third place and to host Tuesday's playoff game. We needed these two today and the team excelled. Natalie Amato and Amanda Savinelli pitched well as they have all year and we got some timely hits. It's great to have Isabel Milardo back too. We will be ready for Tuesday."

UP NEXT
The Blue Jays earned the three-seed in the South Division of the GNAC and will host four-seeded Regis College on Tuesday, May 3 at 4:00 p.m. in the GNAC Tournament First Round on the USJ Softball Field. The one-game playoff will determine the final team from the south who will play in the second round of the postseason. Fans who can't make it can head to usjbluejays.com to keep up with the action!

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