Softball Sweeps Road Doubleheader at Elms Saturday

CHICOPEE, Mass. - The University of Saint Joseph (USJ) softball team got back in the win column, sweeping a Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) South Division doubleheader on the road at Elms C0llege (Elms) Saturday afternoon at Cheryl R. Condon Field in Chicopee, Mass. The Blue Jays took game one, 5-4, before winning game two, 7-0, after Elms had to forfeit the game due to not being able to field enough players. With the results, the Blue Jays move to 15-21 overall, 6-8 in the GNAC and 5-7 in the South Division, while the Blazers dropped to 4-30 overall, 1-15 in the GNAC and 1-11 in the South Division.

GAME ONE | USJ 5, ELMS 4

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Elms grabbed an early lead, hitting a solo homerun in the bottom of the first to take a 1-0 edge.
• The Blue Jays answered back in the top half of the second, as freshman Analise Escarraman (Windham, Conn.) reached via an error from the Blazers pitcher, that also enable sophomore outfielder Madelyn Ellis (Newington, Conn.) to cross home and tie the game at 1-1.
• USJ carried the momentum into the third, as junior shortstop Jenna Zup (Berlin, Conn.) launched a double to center, plating junior pitcher Alyssa Roberts (Naugatuck, Conn.) and establshing a 2-1 USJ lead.
• In the next at-bat, the Elms third baseman committed a costly error, allowing Zup to score and increase the lead to 3-1.
• Junior outfielder Izzy Milardo (Middlefield, Conn.) rounded out the big inning for the Blue Jays, slashing a single to center field, scoring Ellis and increasing the advantage to 4-1.
• The Blazers tried to answer back, scoring a run in the bottom of the third, but USJ answered in kind in the top of the fourth, when sophomore infielder Alexis Volinsky (Berwick, Maine) ripped a single down the left field line, sending Escarraman home and increasing the advantage to 5-2.
• Elms would pull back within one though, 5-4, after scoring twice in the bottom of the fourth.
• The Blazers looked to take the lead in the bottom of the sixth, loading the bases, but sophomore pitcher Paige Fekete (Watertown, Conn.) was able to prevent any runs from scoring, preserving the victory for USJ, 5-4.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Volinsky paced the team with a 2-for-4 outing at the plate.
• Ellis scored a team-best two runs.
• Freshman Jenn Antonowicz (Wolcott, Conn.) stole the teams' lone base.
• Roberts took home the victory (5-8), allowing four runs off 10 hits, throwing four strikeouts across 6.2 innings of work.
• Fekete retired the lone batter she faced inside the circle.

GAME TWO | USJ 7, ELMS 0

Due to not being able to field enough players, the Blazers forfeited game two, giving USJ a 7-0 victory.

UP NEXT
The Blue Jays round out the 2024 regular season with a GNAC Doubleheader at home against Regis College on Sunday, April 28. The doubleheader, which serves as senior day for USJ, will begin at noon.

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