Softball Drops Opening Day Doubleheader at Gene Cusic Collegiate Classic

NAPLES, Fla. – The University of Saint Joseph (USJ) softball team dropped a pair of games at the Gene Cusic Collegiate Classic in Naples, Fla, to open the 2025 season. The Blue Jays fell to Bethany College (Bethany) in the opener, 11-2, before dropping a 12-3 decision to Wisconsin-Superior (UWS). With the results, USJ opens the year at 0-2, while the Bison moved to 3-0 and the Yellowjackets improved to 6-2 overall.

USJ 2, BETHANY 11 (6 INNINGS)

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Bison would start the game strong, keeping USJ off the scoreboard as they grabbed a 2-0 edge after three innings.
• USJ responded in the top half of the fourth, as junior infielder Emma Carpenter (Brooklyn, Conn.) lead off the inning with a single. Carpenter would then move to second after a sacrifice bunt from starting pitcher senior Alyssa Roberts (Naugatuck, Conn.), before advancing to third on a wild pitch. Senior infielder Alex Silver (Vernon, Conn.) then brought home the first run for USJ this season, grounding out to the shortstop, but allowed Carpenter to score, cutting the deficit to 2-1.
• However, Bethany responded in the bottom half of the frame, scoring a run to keep a two-run lead, 3-1.
• The Blue Jays wasted little time firing back, as senior shortstop Jenna Zup (Berlin, Conn.) slashed a two-out single, plating pinch runner freshman Jaylynn Poll (Waterbury, Conn.) and closing the disadvantage to 3-2.
• However, Bethany tacked on two runs in the bottom of the fifth, before exploding for six runs in the bottom of the sixth, enacting the run-rule and taking home the victory, 11-2, after six innings.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Zup paced the team with 2-for-3 outing at the plate, tallying one RBI.
• Sophomore Jennifer Antonowicz (Wolcott, Conn.) swiped the teams lone base.
• Roberts (0-1) picked up the loss after allowing five runs off seven hits, while throwing two strikeouts in 4.1 innings of work.
• Junior Kaitlyn Ouellette threw the remaining 1.1 innings, six runs off five hits, while tossing one strikeout.

USJ 3, UWS 12 (6 INNINGS)

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Yellowjackets grabbed the lead immediately, scoring two runs in the top of the first to hold the advantge.
• UWS continued its strong start at the plate in the following two innings, adding two runs in the second and one in the third to increase the gap to 5-0.
• USJ would answer back in the third, as Zup, Antonowicz, and Carpenter all loaded the bases with one out. Then, the Blue Jays got on the board after all three runners successfly stole, as ZUp touched home plate, and closed the gap to 5-1.
• Senior infielder Brianna Catalani (Watertown, Conn.) continued the momentum in the next at-bat, slashing a double that scored Antonowicz and cut the disadvantge to 5-2.
• Roberts rounded out the big inning for USJ, launching a single to the left center gap, allowing Carpenter to score and pull within two runs, 5-3, after three innings.
• However, the Yellowjackets domianted the remainder of the game, scoring four runs in the top of the fourth, before adding one in the fifth and two in the sixth to hold a 12-2 lead.
• USJ could not muster a run in the bottom half of the frame, which saw the Yellowjackets win the game via the run-rule, 12-3.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Nine different Blue Jays recorded hits, including freshman Sophia Onofrio (Naugatuck, Conn.) who notched her first career hit.
• Zup, Antonowicz and Carpenter all stole one base on the day.
• Junior pitcher Paige Fekete (Watertown, Conn.) got the start inside the circle, picking up the loss (0-1), after allowing nine runs off 14 hits while striking out one batter in 3.1 innings of work.
• Ouellette pitched 2.0 innings of relief, allowing three runs off four hits. Junior Jordyn Fitch (Andover, Conn.) threw the remaining 0.2 innings

UP NEXT
The Blue Jays continue the Gene Cusic Collegiate Classic tomorrow, Sunday, March 9 with a pair of games against Westfield State and Alfred State. First pitch against the Owls in Fort Myers, Fla., is set for 9:00 a.m., while opening pitch against the Pioneers is slated for 11:00 a.m.

FOLLOW
For the latest on University of Saint Joseph Athletics, follow the Blue Jays on social media on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube. 

Fans can also download the USJ Front Row Mobile App and subscribe to our Newsletter and Text Alerts. #FearTheFlock #GoBlueJays