Softball Splits Doubleheader Against Western Connecticut Friday Afternoon

WEST HARTFORD, Conn. – The University of Saint Joseph (USJ) softball team split a doubleheader against intrastate foe Western Connecticut State University (WCSU) Friday afternoon at the USJ Softball Field in West Hartford, Conn. USJ dropped the opening game, 4-1, before taking the finale, 3-2. The Blue Jays served as the visitors on the day. With the results, the Blue Jays move to 6-12 on the year while the Wolves move to 8-12.

WCSU 4, USJ 1

HOW IT HAPPENED

• WCSU got off to a fast start, taking a 2-0 lead after the opening frame.
• USJ answered back in the top of the third, as a costly error by the Wolves first baseman allowed freshman Lorraine Cloutier (East Longmeadow, Mass.) to score, closing the deficit to 2-1.
• The Blue Jays would load the bases in the next at-bat, but the Wolves secured the third out, preventing USJ from tying the game.
• WCSU fired back in the bottom of the fourth, tacking on two runs, increasing the edge to 4-1.
• USJ would not be able to answer in the remaining three innings, falling in the opener, 4-1.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Junior Alyssa Roberts (Naugatuck, Conn.) got the start inside the circle, picking up the loss (1-5), allowing four runs, three of which were earned, off six hits in 6.0 innings of work.
• Sophomore infielder Alexis Volinsky (Berwick, Maine) and freshman Jenn Antonowicz (Wolcott, Conn.) recorded the lone hits for USJ in game one.

USJ 3, WCSU 2

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Wolves repeated their first inning scoring prowess in game two, jumping out to another 2-0 lead after the first frame.
• USJ began to fight back as sophomore outfielder Madelyn Ellis (Newington, Conn.) laced a one-out double before Volinsky slashed a clutch two-out double, plating Ellis and closing the gap to 2-1.
• In the next at-bat, junior infielder Brianna Catalani (Watertown, Conn.) slashed an RBI double of her own, scoring Volinsky to the game at 2-2.
• Starting pitcher sophomore Paige Fekete (Watertown, Conn.) continued to control the game after the first inning, keeping the Wolves off the scoreboard as the game reached the sixth inning.
• The Blue Jays began to look for the leading the run as Roberts recorded a double, before moving to third after a sacrifice from junior outfielder Izzy Milardo (Middlefield, Conn.).
• Sophomore Jordyn Fitch (Andover, Conn.) would enter the game as a pinch runner for Roberts before another costly error by the WCSU first baseman allowed junior infielder Emily Beyer (Prospect, Conn.) to get on base and FItch to come hoem to score, giving USJ a 3-2 lead.
• WCSU threatened late in the bottom of the seventh, getting runners on second and third with one out, but Fekete struck out a batter for out number two, before forcing a groundout to end the game and take home a 3-2 victory for USJ.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Roberts paced the team at the plate, batting a perfect 3-for-3 in game two.
• Volinsky and Catlani recorded the RBI for the Blue Jays.
• Fekete picked up the complete game victory (4-3), allowing two runs off eight hits, while tossing two strikeouts.
• The victory snapped a six-game losing skid for the Blue Jays.

UP NEXT

The Blue Jays remain at home, opening Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) play on Sunday, April 7 against Lasell University. First pitch of a doubleheader against the Lasers is set for noon on the USJ Softball Field in West Hartford, Conn.

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