Softball Scores Eight, Moves Past Pride To GNAC Second Round

WEST HARTFORD, Conn. – The three-seeded University of Saint Joseph (USJ) softball team dominated its final home game of the 2022 season, handling the four-seeded Pride of Regis College Tuesday, 8-1, in the GNAC Tournament South Division First Round game, held on the USJ Softball Field. The one-game playoff determined the final team from the south to play in the second round of the playoffs, hosted by top-seeded Albertus Magnus College on Thursday, May 5. USJ plays Johnson & Wales University (JWU) on Thursday, May 5 at 2:00 p.m. at Albertus Magnus.

GAME INFORMATION
Score: #4 Regis 1, #3 Saint Joseph 8
Records: REGIS (11-25), USJ (21-18)
Location: USJ Softball Field | West Hartford, Conn.
Notes: GNAC Tournament – South Division First Round

KEY MOMENTS

• The Blue Jays got ahead early with two key second-inning runs. Junior Liliana Stoddard (Waterford, Conn.) singled to start the inning, and that was all the daylight sophomore Isabella Milardo (Middlefield, Conn.) needed, smacking a triple to deep right field, scoring the game's first run. The second run was tacked on on a throwing error after Freshman Brianna Catalani (Watertown, Conn.) put pressure on the Regis infield to make a play on a hard-hit ball. 2-0 USJ after two.
• Catalani continued her strong performance with a two-out single to center, the hardest-hit ball of the day. That made it 3-0 Blue Jays. Regis got one back on back-to-back sacrifices, sending the freshman pinch-runner, Lexi Nichols (Granby, Conn.) home. 3-1 USJ heading to the bottom of the fifth.
• The Blue Jays bats stayed hot in the fifth tacking on two more runs thanks to the work of senior captain Frankie Ferrante (Southington, Conn.) and Milardo once again. USJ added three more in the next frame to make it 8-1 and pulled away for good. Senior captain Riley Mulligan (Lincoln, R.I.) cranked a bases-clearing double in the gap to seal the deal.
• A flock of four Blue Jays had two hits each, including freshman Jenna Zup (Berlin, Conn.), Ferrante, Stoddard and Catalani.

IN THE CIRCLE

USJ – Senior Natalie Amato (Cheshire, Conn.) was in command in this one, striking out 11 and allowing just one run in six and one-third innings of work. Amato improved to 6-2 on the year with the triumph. Freshman Amanda Savinelli (New Haven, Conn.) retired the side in two-thirds of an inning of relief.

REGIS – Freshman Kate McGrath (Boston, Mass.) dipped to 6-7 on the season allowing eight runs (6 ER) on 10 hits in six innings of work.

COACH QUOTE [Jim McKinnon]
"A good game all around by our team. It's easy to coach with somebody like Natalie Amato on the mound. The defense made plays when we had to, and some timely hitting again was key. Now we go to the next round and we are ready."

UP NEXT
The Blue Jays are headed to the GNAC Tournament Second Round, which will be held at two sites, the top seed from the North, and top from the South. This double elimination format guarantees that the Blue Jays play Thursday, May 5 and Saturday, May 7. USJ's fate will be determined in the second-round game, a battle with the two-seeded Wildcats of Johnson & Wales University. The action is set for 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, the game being held at Albertus Magnus College in New Haven, Conn. USJ went 0-2 this season vs JWU and lost to the Wildcats in the GNAC Semifinals last season. Fans who can't make it can head to www.usjbluejays.com to keep up with the action!

Follow USJ Athletics
For the latest on University of Saint Joseph athletics, follow the Blue Jays on social media on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.

Fans can also download the USJ Front Row Mobile App and subscribe to our Newsletter and Text Alerts. #FearTheFlock #GoBlueJays