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Photo Credit: Steve McLaughlin Photography
Photo Credit: Steve McLaughlin Photography
Posted: Mar 14, 2024

Softball Splits Two Games During Final Day of Gene Cusic Collegiate Classic

NAPLES, Fla. – The University of Saint Joseph (USJ) softball team split a pair of games during the final day of the Gene Cusic Collegiate Classic in Naples, Fla., Thursday morning. The Blue Jays first fell to Greenville, 16-1, after five innings, before rounding out the weeklong trip to Florida with a 3-1 victory over the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT). With the results, the Blue Jays move to 4-6 on the year.

GREENVILLE 16, USJ 1 (5 INNINGS)

HOW IT HAPPENED

  • The Panthers took the lead in the top of the first, but the Blue Jays immediately responded in the bottom of the frame. After singling to left field, junior pitcher Alyssa Roberts (Naugatuck, Conn.) took advantage of a Greenville error, crossing home plate to tie the game at 1-1.
  • However, the Panthers dominated the remainder of the game, scoring 15 runs while not allowing USJ to score again, taking home a 16-1 victory after five innings.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

  • Roberts (1-2) got the start in game one, picking up the loss after allowing seven runs off five hits in 1.2 innings of work.
  • Sophomores Kaitlyn Ouellette (Wolcott, Conn.) and Tessa D'Aquila (Old Saybrook, Conn.) and freshman Jenn Antonowicz (Wolcott, Conn.) all made relief appearances for USJ.
  • Roberts and sophomore infielder Emma Carpenter (Brooklyn, Conn.) recorded hits.

USJ 3, RIT 1

HOW IT HAPPENED

  • After a scoreless opening frame, the Blue Jays grabbed the lead in the top of the second. Sophomore outfielder Madelyn Ellis (Newington, Conn.) and junior infielder Brianna Catalani (Watertown, Conn.) both got on base to lead off the inning, setting up sophomore pitcher Paige Fekete (Watertown, Conn.), who launched a sacrifice fly to center, scoring Ellis and establishing a 1-0 lead.
  • In the next at-bat, sophomore catcher Allison Conger (Plainfield, Conn.) laid down a sacrifice bunt, enabling Catalani to cross home plate and increase the Blue Jays lead to 2-0.
  • RIT fired back in the bottom of the third, scoring a run to close the gap to 2-1.
  • USJ responded in the top of the fifth, when sophomore outfielder Avianna Ibrahim (Colchester, Conn.) reached first after a successful bunt, before utilizing heads up base running, stealing second and third before scoring off an error by the RIT catcher, increasing the Blue Jays edge to 3-1.
  • Fekete continued to shut down the Tigers at the plate, securing the victory for the Blue Jays, 3-1.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

  • Fekete (2-2) earned the complete game victory, allowing one run off six hits and striking out three RIT batters.
  • Roberts paced the team at the plate, going 2-for-3 at the plate.
  • Fekete and Conger recorded RBI's.
  • Ellis drew a team-best two walks.
  • Ibrahim stole a team-high two bases.

UP NEXT

The Blue Jays return to West Hartford, making the team's 2024 home debut on Saturday, March 23 for a doubleheader against Bay Path. First pitch of game one at the USJ Softball Field is set for 12:00 p.m.

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