Softball Splits Two Games Wednesday Morning in Florida

NAPLES, Fla. – The University of Saint Joseph (USJ) softball team split two contests during the penultimate day of the Gene Cusic Collegiate Classic in Naples Fla., Wednesday morning. The Blue Jays started the day by utilizing a big seventh inning to comeback and defeat La Roche University (La Roche), 10-7, before concluding the day with a 3-2 defeat against Bethany College (Bethany). With the results, USJ moved to 3-5 on the young season, while the Redhawks moved to 1-4 overall and the Bison moved to 10-0 overall.

USJ 10, LA ROCHE 7

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Redhawks would grab an early lead, plating a run in the bottom of the first to take a 1-0 edge after the opening frame.
• USJ looked to answer back in the top of the second, putting runners on the corners with two outs, but La Roche would not allow a run, securing the final out of the inning.
• The Redhawks tacked on another run in the bottom of the third, extending the gap to 2-0 after three innings.
• USJ would respond in the top of the fifth, as junior infielder Emma Carpenter (Brooklyn, Conn.) beat out a throw to first to notch an infield single, while sophomore infielder Jennifer Antonowicz (Wolcott, Conn.) utilized heads-up baserunning to dash home and score on the play, cutting the gap to 2-1.
• In the next at-bat, starting pitcher senior Alyssa Roberts (Naguatuck, Conn.) launched an RBI-double to left, plating Carpenter and tying the score at 2-2.
• However, the Redhawks answered with five runs in the bottom half of the frame, retaking the lead, 7-2.
• USJ fired back in the top of the sixth, as junior outfielder Avianna Ibrahim (Colchester, Conn.) slashed a bases-load single to right, scoring freshmen Lorynes Suriel (Lynn, Mass.) and Gabby Marichal (Lynn, Mass.) to close the deficit to three, 7-4.
• Antonowicz was able to plate one more two batters later, hitting a sacrifice fly to right to cut the gap to 7-5. Carpenter continued the run parade in the following at-bat, ripping an RBI single to left to pull USJ back within one, 7-6.
• The Blue Jays continued to fight back, as Marichal knotted the game at 7-7 in the top of the seventh after recording an RBI single back up the middle.
• Ibrahim continued the big inning, launching a double to center, scoring Marichal and pinch runner Sadie Girgasky (Seymour, Conn.) to give USJ their first lead of the game, 9-7.
• Senior shortstop Jenna Zup (Berlin, Conn.) increased the lead to 10-7, grounding out, but hitting the ball deep enough into the infield to enable Ibrahim to cross home.
• USJ would shutout the Redhawks in the bottom of the seventh, securing the comeback victory, 10-7.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Antonowicz paced the team with a perfect 3-for-3 outing at the plate.
• Ibrahim, Marichal and Carpenter all recorded multi-hit games.
• Ibrahim recorded a team-best four RBI.
• Antonowicz and junior catcher Allison Conger (Plainfield, Conn.) both stole bases.
• Roberts got the start inside the circle, receiving a no-decision after allowing five runs off seven hits, while striking out three batters across 4.1 innings.
• Junior Kaitlyn Ouellette (Wolcott, Conn.) picked up the win (2-0), throwing 2.2 innings of relief, allowing two runs off five hits.

USJ 2, BETHANY 3

HOW IT HAPPENED

• After a scoreless first frame, USJ grabbed the lead in the bottom of the second, after Ouellette slashed an RBI triple to right before Marichal recorded an RBI single in the next at-bat to setup a 2-0 USJ lead.
• Sophomore Analise Escarraman (Windham, Conn.), who got the start for the Blue Jays, continued to shut down the Bison bats, preserving the 2-0 edge through three innings.
• However, Bethany would get on the board, scoring a run in the top of the fourth, cutting the deficit to 2-1.
• The Bison would begin to take control of the game, shutting down the USJ offense before scoring two runs in the top of the sixth to hold a 3-2 edge.
• The Blue Jays would not be able to respond in the following two frames, as Bethany secured the win, 3-2.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Ibrahim and Roberts paced the team at the plate, both posting a 2-for-3 day at the plate.
• Ibrahim and Ouellette both notched triples.
• Escarraman picked up the loss (0-2) after throwing a complete game. The sophomore hurler allowed three runs, two of which were earned, off eight hits.

UP NEXT

The Blue Jays round out the Gene Cusic Collegiate Classic tomorrow, Thursday, March 13, with matchups against Alfred State and SUNY Potsdam. First pitch against the Pioneers in Naples, Fla., is set for 9:00 a.m., while the opening pitch against the Bears is scheduled for 11:00 a.m.

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