Softball Splits Doubleheader With Bay Path Friday

WEST HARTFORD, Conn. – The University of Saint Joseph (USJ) softball team split a doubleheader against the Bay Path University (Bay Path) Wildcats during the teams' home opener Friday afternoon on the USJ Softball Field in West Hartford, Conn. The Blue Jays took game one, 5-2, before falling in game two, 6-5. With the results, the Blue Jays move to 5-7 on the year while the Wildcats move to 3-8.

USJ 5, BAY PATH 2

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Wildcats gained an early 1-0 lead in the top of the second, but the Blue Jays responded with a pair of runs in the bottom half of the frame.
• Sophomore outfielder Kaitlyn Ouellette (Wolcott, Conn.) began the inning with a one out single, setting up sophomore outfielder Avianna Ibrahim (Colchester, Conn.) who ripped a double into center field, plating Ouellette and tying the score at 1-1.
• Two batters later, sophomore catcher Allison Conger (Plainfield, Conn.) hit a single down the left field line, scoring Ibrahim and establishing a 2-1 USJ lead after two innings.
• Bay Path answered in the top of the fourth, levelling the score at 2-2.
• USJ would come up clutch in the bottom of the fifth, embarking on a two-out rally, starting with a walk by junior Alyssa Roberts (Naugatuck, Conn.).
• Sophomore catcher Devan Fox (Granville, Mass.) would come in to pinch run for Roberts, advancing to second on a wild pitch before freshman catcher Sydney Robison (Clinton, Conn.) recorded an RBI single, plating Fox and reestablishing the lead for the Blue Jays, 3-2.
• Sophomore infielder Alexis Volinsky (Berwick, Maine) kept the rally alive in the next at-bat, doubling over the right fielder head, scoring Robsion and increasing the advantage to 4-2.
• Ouellette capped off the run parade in the following at-bat, hitting a hard-hit ball back up the middle, scoring Volinsky and increasing the lead to 5-2.
• Starting pitcher sophomore Paige Fekete (Watertown, Conn.) shut down the Wildcats in the final two innings, securing the game one victory for USJ, 5-2.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Fekete (3-2) picked up the complete game victory, allowing two runs off seven hits, and striking out four batters.
• Ibrahim and Ouellette paced the Blue Jays at the plate, both going 2-for-3 with an RBI on the day.
• Ibrahim and junior outfielder Izzy Milardo (Middlefield, Conn.) both stole a base in game one.

BAY PATH 6, USJ 5

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Wildcats jumped out to another early lead, holding a 3-0 edge after the top of the first.
• USJ responded in kind in the bottom of the frame, as Volinsky stepped up the plate with two runners on and two outs. The sophomore came up big, launching a homerun over the left center fence, tying the game at 3-3.
• Bay Path wasted little time regaining the lead, tacking on a run in the top of the second to hold a 4-3 edge.
• The Blue Jays responded in the bottom of the fourth as sophomore outfielder Madelyn Ellis (Newington, Conn.) lead off the inning with a triple to the left center gap.
• In the next at-bat, Ibrahim hit a ball deep into the infield, enabling Ellis to beat the throw home, tying the score at 4-4.
• Ibrahim then took advantage of a Bay Path wild pitch, crossing the plate to give the Blue Jays a 5-4 lead.
• However, the Wildcats fired back with a pair of runs in the top of the fifth, retaking the advantage, 6-5.
• The Blue Jays could not get the offense going in the final three frames, as Bay Path held on to take a 6-5 victory.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Roberts (1-3) picked up the loss, allowing six runs off eight hits and striking out three batters in 4.2 innings of work.
• Volinsky paced the team with three RBI.
• Ellis stole the lone base in game two.

UP NEXT

The Blue Jays return to the diamond on Tuesday, March 26 at local foes Trinity College. First pitch against the Bantams on the Trinity Softball Field in Hartford, Conn., is set for 3:30 p.m.

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