Softball Season Concludes In GNAC Semis Saturday

BOSTON, Mass. – The three-seeded University of Saint Joseph (USJ) softball team fought hard once again but could not get the run support needed to get over the hump, falling 3-0 Saturday afternoon in the second elimination game of the 2022 Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Softball tournament at Roberto Clemente Field, to the Sharks of Simmons University (SU).

With the setback, USJ concludes the season with a 21-20 overall record having made the GNAC Tournament for the 12th straight season. Saint Joseph has won two Softball GNAC Championships (2019, 2000) and will seek its third in 2023.

GAME INFORMATION
SCORE: #2N Simmons 3, #3S Saint Joseph 0
RECORDS: SU (26-12-1) USJ (21-20-0)
LOCATION: Roberto Clemente Field | Boston, Mass.
Notes: GNAC Tournament – Semifinals

KEY MOMENTS

• Senior Maddie Castigliego (Bristol, R.I.) hurled her second complete game of the GNAC tournament for Simmons, scattering just three hits over seven innings of work while striking out eight in the outing to notch her 25th victory of the campaign, which currently ranks second in the nation among Division III players. Senior Natalie Amato (Cheshire, Conn.) once again put in a stellar performance but was bested by Castigliego, as Amato allowed three runs on seven hits in seven innings, striking out five.
• Both pitchers were fantastic through four, but the Sharks of Simmons finally got on the board in the fifth to plate what proved to be the game-winner. With two outs and the bases loaded, sophomore Jordyn Rubin (Lewiston, Maine) hit a dribbler down the third base line, but the throw to third was not in time, scoring the first run of the contest.
• The Sharks scored a pair of insurance runs in the seventh on a two-RBI triple down the right field line by senior Shannon McMahon (El Cajon, Calif.) to account for the 3-0 final, as Castigliego retired the Blue Jays in order to preserve the shutout victory. 
• Senior captain Frankie Ferrante (Southington, Conn.), sophomore Isabel Milardo (Middlefield, Conn.) and freshman Brianna Catalani (Watertown, Conn.) each had a hit for USJ in defeat. USJ had the bases loaded with two gone in the second, and also had a runner in scoring position in the sixth with two away, but neither opportunity resulted in runs. USJ had just eight hits and no runs in two games this postseason.

IN THE CIRCLE

USJ – Amato struck out five in seven innings of work, finishing her final season with a 6-4 record. She allowed three runs on seven hits in total.

SU – Castigliego improved to 25-12 on the season with a three-hit shutout, walking just one batter and fanning eight on the day.

COACH QUOTE [Jim McKinnon] "Another tough loss in the tournament. We battled throughout and all the players, from the starters to the role players, were doing everything they could to help the team. As a Head Coach, you should only ask that your players do the best they can and leave everything on the field. They did that and I was proud to be their coach. Congrats to the seniors for all they did during their four years. They will be very successful in their life after USJ. I have announced our Captains for next year as Liliana Stoddard and Jenna Masiello. Both deserving of this, and I know the successful program we have will continue."

UP NEXT
The season has concluded for the Blue Jays with a 21-20 overall record and a 12th straight appearance in the GNAC Tournament. Be sure to check back on usjbluejays.com for all things Softball ahead of the 2023 season!

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