Softball Splits Home Doubleheader Against Rivier Sunday

WEST HARTFORD, Conn. - The University of Saint Joseph (USJ) softball team split a Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) cross divisional doubleheader against Rivier University (Rivier), Sunday afternoon at the USJ Softball Field in West Hartford, Conn. The Blue Jays took the opening game, 5-3, before falling in game two to the Raiders, 8-3. With the results, the Blue Jays move to 10-16 on the year and 2-4 in GNAC play, while the Raiders move to 10-12 overall and 3-3 in the conference.

 
GAME ONE | USJ 5, RIVIER 3

HOW IT HAPPENED

• After a scoreless first frame, the Raiders grabbed a 1-0 lead in the top of the second.
• The Blue Jays answered back in the bottom half of the inning, as sophomore Allison Conger (Plainfield, Conn.) laid down a perfect bunt, enabling junior Jenna Zup (Berlin, Conn.) to cross home and tie the game at 1-1.
• Two batters later, sophomore outfielder Madelyn Ellis (Newington, Conn.) ripped a single back up the middle, sending freshman Analise Escarraman (Windham, Conn.) and establishing a 2-1 USJ lead after two innings.
• The game then turned into a pitchers duel, as neither offense could generate scoring opportunities until the sixth inning.
• Rivier regained the lead in the top of the six, tacking on two runs to hold a slim 3-2 edge.
• The Blue Jays immediately responded in the bottom of the frame, as Conger launched a double to the right center gap, plating Escarraman and tying the game at 3-3.
• Then, with the bases loaded, sophomore infielder Alexis Volinsky (Berwick, Maine), hit a clutch two out double down the left field line, scoring Ellis and sophomore infielder Emma Carpenter (Brooklyn, Conn.) to swing the lead back in USJ's favor, 5-3.
• Sophomore pitcher Paige Fekete (Watertown, Conn.), who entered the game in the sixth inning, shut the door on the Raiders in the top of the seventh, preserving the win for the Blue Jays, 5-3.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Volinsky paced the team with a 3-for-4 outing at the plate, recording two RBI.
• Conger batted 2-for-3 with two RBI.
• Escarraman scored a team-best two runs.
• Junior Alyssa Roberts (Naugatuck, Conn.) got the start in game one, picking up a no decision after allowing three runs off seven hits in 5.0 innings of work.
• Fekete took home the win (5-5) allowing only one hit in 2.0 innings of relief work.

GAME TWO | RIVIER 8, USJ 3

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Raiders grabbed another early lead, scoring a run in the top of the first before adding another in the top of the third to hold a 2-0 lead.
• USJ answered back in the bottom half of the third frame, as Roberts reached first via a fielder's choice while junior outfielder Izzy Milardo (Middlefield, Conn.) crossed home, cutting the gap to 2-1.
• The Blue Jays tied the game one inning later, as sophomore Kaitlyn Ouellette (Wolcott, Conn.) drew a bases loaded walk, enabling sophmore Tessa D'Aquila (Old Saybrook, Conn.) to cross home and tie the game at 2-2.
• Rivier would not let the game stay level for long, retaking the lead with a run in the top of the fifth, before adding four runs in the top of the sixth to take a 7-2 edge.
• Milardo would notch an RBI single in the bottom half of the sixth to cut the lead to 7-3, but the Raiders responded with a run in the top of the seventh before holding the Blue Jays in the bottom of the final inning, taking the victory in game two, 8-3.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Milardo paced the team with a 3-for-4 outing in game two.
• Conger drew a team-best two walks.
• Carpenter went a perfect 2-for-2 at the plate.
• Fekete got the start in game two, picking up the loss )5-6) after allowing three runs, one of which was earned, off nine hits and throwing three strikeouts in 4.0 innings of work.
• Roberts, freshman Jenn Antonowicz (Wolcott, Conn.) and Escarraman all saw time inside the circle as relief pitchers in game two.

UP NEXT
The Blue Jays begin a six-game road trip, starting with a GNAC doubleheader at Anna Maria on Wednesday, April 17. Opening pitch of game one is slated for 3:00 p.m. at the AMCAT Softball Field in Paxton, Mass.

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