USJ Drops Eight-Inning Thriller to JWU In GNAC Quarters

NEW HAVEN, Conn. – The three-seeded University of Saint Joseph (USJ) softball team pushed the two-seeded Johnson & Wales University (JWU) Wildcats to the brink Thursday, dropping a 1-0 decision in eight innings, part of the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Quarterfinals, held at Shea Softball Field, on the campus of Albertus Magnus College.

With the setback, USJ will play at 12:30 p.m. Saturday, May 7, in an elimination game in the GNAC Semifinals against the two seed in the North Division, Simmons University. That game will be played on Roberto Clemente Field at Emmanuel College, in Boston, Mass.

GAME INFORMATION
SCORE: #2S Johnson & Wales 1, #3S Saint Joseph 0 (8 innings)
RECORDS: JWU (33-6) USJ (21-19)
LOCATION: Shea Softball Field | New Haven, Conn.
Notes: GNAC Tournament – Quarterfinals

KEY MOMENTS

• The game's only run came in walk-off fashion, as freshman Mackenzie Clee (Warminster, Penn.) scored on a wild pitch in the bottom of the eighth inning. The teams combined for just nine hits. JWU scored 18 runs in the first two meetings vs USJ this season, but were held to just 1 run Thursday.
• The Blue Jays had their chance in extra innings as sophomore Adriana Quealy (East Hartford, Conn.) connected on a one-out, pinch-hit double to right center field. After moving to third on a passed ball, USJ had the go-ahead run a base away with only one gone. The visitors could not get that run home though as the next two batters were retired.
• Saint Joseph also had a shot in the opening inning as the first two batters reached safely, but a pair of strikeouts and a fly out ended the inning with no runs on the board. Sophomore Isabel Milardo (Middlefield, Conn.) led the way offensively for USJ with two hits. Quealy's double was the only extra-base hit on the day for the Blue Jays.

IN THE CIRCLE

USJ – Senior Natalie Amato (Cheshire, Conn.) had one of the best games of her four-year career, striking out 17 batters in total and allowing just four hits despite giving up a pair of triples. She gave up just the one run on a wild pitch after a single, error and stolen base. She also walked none on the day despite dipping to 6-3 overall.

JWU – Clee, who provided the only run of the game, moved to 10-0 on the season with a five hit shutout, striking out a dozen in the process.

COACH QUOTE [Jim McKinnon]
"If Natalie Amato is not considered one of the best pitchers in the conference, I don't know who is. What a great game she pitched today against a team usually putting up 10 runs per game. Kelsie LaHouse was excellent behind the plate as well. It's a tough way to lose a game, but we have battled all year and I look forward to our games on Saturday. We will be ready."

UP NEXT
The Blue Jays will play at 12:30 p.m. Saturday, May 7 in an elimination game in the GNAC Semifinals against the top seed in the North Division, Simmons University. That game will be played on Roberto Clemente Field at Emmanuel College, in Boston, Mass. Fans who can't make it can head to usjbluejays.com to keep up with the action!

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