Softball Drops Doubleheader at Mitchell

NEW LONDON, Conn. – The University of Saint Joseph (USJ) softball team dropped a Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) doubleheader on the road at Mitchell College Thursday and Friday afternoon in New London, Conn. The doubleheader originally started on Thursday, April 18, but was suspended in the top of the third inning of game one until today, Friday April 19. The Mariners took the opening game, 7-5, before completing the sweep with a 3-1 victory in game two. With the results, the Blue Jays move to 11-19 on the year, 3-7 in the GNAC, and 1-5 in the South Division, while the Mariners move to 10-12 overall, 6-0 in the GNAC, and 6-0 in the South Division.

GAME ONE | MITCHELL 7, USJ 5

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Mariners grabbed an early lead, scoring twice in the bottom of the first to take a 2-0 edge.
• USJ responded in the top of the second, loading the bases with one out. Junior outfielder Izzy Milardo (Middlefield, Conn.) then stepped up, grounding out to the first baseman, but junior Jenna Zup (Berlin, Conn.) was able to score on the play, cutting the deficit to 2-1.
• In the very next at-bat, sophomore infielder Emma Carpenter (Brooklyn, Conn.) slashed a single to center, plating sophomore Allison Conger (Plainfield, Conn.) and freshman Sydney Robison (Clinton, Conn.) and establishing a 3-2 USJ lead.
• The Mariners responded in kind during the bottom half of the frame though, tacking on three runs to retake the lead, 5-3.
• USJ fired back in the top of the third, as Zup launched a double to the right center gap, bringing home sophomore Alexis Volinsky (Berwick, Maine) and junior Alyssa Roberts (Naugatuck, Conn.) to tie the game at 5-5.
• The game then was suspended until Friday due to inclement weather in the top of the third inning with one out.
• After roughly 24 hours, play would resume as Mitchell retook the lead, 7-5, with a pair of runs in the bottom of the sixth inning.
• The Blue Jays would not be able to answer, as the Mariners took game one, 7-5.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Carpenter paced the team at the plate, batting 2-for-3 with two RBI in game one.
• Zup also tallied two RBI while drawing two walks.
• Roberts got the start inside the circle, picking up the loss (3-7) after allowing seven runs on 12 hits and throwing four strikeouts in 6.0 innings of work.

GAME TWO | MITCHELL 3, USJ 1

HOW IT HAPPENED

• After a scoreless first inning, Mitchell would take the lead in the bottom of the second, 2-0, after scoring a pair of runs.
• The Mariners continued to hold the Blue Jays at the plate, as the hosts tacked on a run in the bottom of the third to extend the gap to 3-0.
• USJ began to fight back in the top of the sixth, as Volinsky and Roberts notched back-to-back hits to open the inning, putting runners on the corners. Zup would then step up, hitting a sacrifice fly to center field, allowing Volinsky to cross home and cut the gap to 3-1.
• The Blue Jays were then able to load the bases, but the Mariners escaped the jam without surrendering another run.
• USJ would not get any closer, as Mitchell held the Blue Jays scoreless in the seventh to pick up the doubleheader sweep, 3-1.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Roberts paced the team at the plate, batting 2-for-4 in game two.
• Volinsky drew a team-best two walks.
• Sophomore Paige Fekete (Watertown, Conn.) got the start inside the circle in game two, picking up the loss (5-7) after allowing three runs, two of which were earned, off eight hits, throwing four strikeouts across 6.0 innings.

UP NEXT
The Blue Jays continue GNAC South Division Play on Sunday, April 21, heading to Franklin, Mass., for a doubleheader at Dean. First pitch in game one against the Bulldogs at the Longley Athletic Complex is set for noon.

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