Softball Sweeps Home GNAC Doubleheader Versus Intrastate Foe Mitchell Wednesday

WEST HARTFORD, Conn. – The University of Saint Joseph (USJ) softball team got back in the win column, sweeping a Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) South Division doubleheader against intrastate foes Mitchell College (Mitchell) Wednesday afternoon at the USJ Softball Field in West Hartford, Conn. The Blue Jays breezed to victory in game one, 14-2, after five innings, before completing the sweep with a 2-0 win in game two. With the results, the Blue Jays improve to 9-10 overall, 2-2 in GNAC play and 2-2 in the South Division, while the Mariners drop to 7-11 overall, 2-4 in the GNAC and 2-2 in the South Division.

GAME ONE: USJ 14, Mitchell 2 (5 Innings)

HOW IT HAPPENED

• USJ wasted little time getting on the scoreboard, as freshman outfielder Lorynes Suriel (Lynn, Mass.) slashed a triple to center field, establishing a 1-0 lead.
• In the next at-bat, senior Alyssa Roberts (Naugatuck, Conn.) ripped a single back up the middle, plating Suriel and increasing the gap to 2-0.
• Two batters later, senior Alex Silver doubled down the right field line, scoring two runs nad increasing the edge to 4-0.
• Senior shortstop continued the Blue Jays momentum, as she slashed a two-rbi single during her second trip to the plate of the inning, furthering the advantage to 6-0.
• Sophomore infielder Jennifer Antonowicz (Wolcott, Conn.) notched herself an RBI single in the next at-bat, before Suriel launched a two-rbi single, followed by RBI singles from Roberts and junior Kaitlyn Ouellette (Wolcott, Conn.) to establish an 11-0 lead after the first inning.
• The Blue Jay bats would cool off, but junior starting pitcher Paige Fekete (Watertown, Conn.) would keep Mitchell at bay, preserving the 11-0 lead after three innings.
• USJ would tack on three runs in the bottom of the fourth, as Antonowicz notched a two-RBI single, while Suriel rounded out her incredible day with an RBI single to left, increasing the lead to 14-0.
• Mitchell would score two runs in the top of the fifth, but Fekete shut the door on any comeback hope, as USJ secured the victory after five innings, 14-2.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Suriel had a career day, posting a 3-for-4 mark the plate while tallying a team-high four RBI.
• Antonowicz also went 3-for-4 at the plate, while Zup, Roberts and Ouellette recorded two hits each.
• Junior outfielder Avianna Ibrahim (Colchester, Conn.) drew a team-best two walks.
• Junior infielder Emma Carpenter (Brooklyn, Conn.) stole the lone base of the game.
• Fekete earned the victory (1-3) after tossing a complete game, allowing two runs off six hits while throwing three strikeouts.

GAME TWO: USJ 2, Mitchell 0

HOW IT HAPPENED

• After a scoreless first inning, USJ would take a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second as Roberts was able to score after the Mitchell left fielder bobbled the ball after a Silver single.
• Carpenter would then slash an RBI-single to left field, plating Silver and increasing the lead to 2-0.
• Roberts would shut down the Mitchell bats in game two, keeping the Mariners off the board as the Blue Jays maintained the two-run lead through five innings.
• Roberts continued to pitch a gem inside the circle, preserving the shutout victory for USJ, 2-0.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Zup, Roberts, Silver and Carpenter all went 2-for-3 at the plate in game two.
• Roberts earned the complete game shutout victory (3-3), after allowing five hits and striking out two Mariners.

UP NEXT

The Blue Jays round out a four-game homestand with a GNAC South Division doubleheader against Elms College on Saturday, April 5. First pitch of game one against the Blazers at the USJ Softball Field in West Hartford, Conn., is set for noon.

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