Softball Drops GNAC-Opening Doubleheader at Rival Albertus Magnus Sunday

NEW HAVEN, Conn. – The University of Saint Joseph (USJ) softball team dropped a doubleheader at intrastate rival Albertus Magnus College (Albertus) to open Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) play Sunday afternoon at the Shea Softball Complex in New Haven, Conn. The Falcons took the opener, 10-4, before completing the sweep with a 4-2 win in game two. With the results, the Blue Jays dropped to 7-10 overall and 0-2 in GNAC play, while the Falcons moved to 10-8 overall and 3-1 in conference play.

GAME ONE: USJ 4, Albertus 10

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Falcons jumped out to an early lead, scoring five runs in the bottom of the first to take a 5-0 edge.
• USJ responded in the top half of the second as freshman outfielder Lorynes Suriel (Lynn, Mass.) was able to score off a fielder's choice, cutting the gap to 5-1.
• In the next at-bat, senior shortstop Jenna Zup (Berlin, Conn.) ripped a two-RBI single to center field, scoring junior infielder Emma Carpenter (Brooklyn, Conn.) and freshman outfielder Gabby Marichal (Lynn, Mass.) and closing the deficit to 5-3 after two innings.
• Carpenter carried the momentum into the top of the third, ripping an RBI double to center field to pull USJ within one, 5-4.
• However, Albertus would score two runs in the bottom half of the fourth, before adding three in the bottom of the fifth, while shutting out at the USJ offense for the remainder of the game to take victory in game one, 10-4.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Zup paced the team with a 3-for-4 outing at the plate.
• Carpenter also had a multi-hit game, tallying two base knocks.
• Marichal stole the lone base for USJ.
• Junior hurler Paige Fekete (Watertown, Conn.) got the start for USJ, picking up the loss (0-3) after allowing five runs, four of which were earned, off four hits in only 0.2 innings of work.
• Junior Kaitlyn Ouellette (Wolcott, Conn.) threw the remaining 5.1 innings in relief, allowing five runs off 12 hits, while striking out two Falcons.

GAME TWO: USJ 2, Albertus 4

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Blue Jays took a quick 1-0 lead in the top of the first after sophomore infielder Jennifer Antonowicz (Wolcott, Conn.) scored off an error by the Falcon's center fielder.
• However, Albertus would score three runs in the bottom half of the frame, establishing a 3-1 edge.
• USJ would pull one run back in the top of the second, as Zup continued her strong day at the plate, ripping an RBI single to left field, scoring senior first baseman Alex Silver (Vernon, Conn.) and closing the deficit to 3-2.
• The Falcons though would cancel out the run in the bottom of the third, tacking on a run to retake a two-run lead, 4-2, after three innings.
• The Blue Jays would not be able to threaten the Falcons for the remainder of the game, as Albertus won game two, 4-2, to complete the sweep.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Freshman Sadie Girgasky (Bethlehem, Conn.) paced the Blue Jays with a 2-for-3 outing at the plate.
• Antonowicz also recorded two hits.
• Senior Alyssa Roberts (Naugatuck, Conn.) pitched a complete game for USJ and picked up the loss (2-3) after allowing four runs off 10 hits while tossing two strikeouts.

UP NEXT

The Blue Jays return home for a four-game homestand, starting with a GNAC doubleheader against intrastate foes Mitchell College on Wednesday, April 2. Opening pitch of game one against the Mariners at the USJ Softball Field in West Hartford, Conn., is slated for 3:00 p.m.

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