Softball Sweeps Home GNAC Doubleheader Against Elms Friday

WEST HARTFORD, Conn. – The University of Saint Joseph (USJ) softball team extended its winning streak to four games, sweeping a Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) South Division doubleheader against intrastate foes Elms College (Elms), Friday afternoon at the USJ Softball Field in West Hartford, Conn. The Blue Jays secured the win in game one, 9-2, before completing the sweep with a 7-1 win in game two. With the results, the Blue Jays improve to 11-10 overall, 4-2 in GNAC play and 4-2 in the South Division, while the Blazers drop to 4-20 overall, 0-6 in the GNAC and 0-6 in the South Division.

GAME ONE: USJ 9, ELMS 2

HOW IT HAPPENED

• USJ got on the scoreboard early, as sophomore infielder Jennifer Antonowicz (Wolcott, Conn.) slashed an RBI triple to the right center gap during the second at-bat of the game, establishing a 1-0 Blue Jays lead.
• In the very next at-bat, freshman outfielder Lorynes Suriel (Lynn, Mass.) would ground out to the shortstop, but the ball was hit deep enough to enable Antonowicz to score without a throw to the plate, increasing the gap to 2-0 after the opening inning.
• Elms responded in the top half of the second, scoring two runs to knot the game at 2-2 through two innings.
• The Blue Jays fired back in the bottom of the third, as back-to-back errors by the Blazers' shortstop saw two runs cross home for USJ, reestablishing a two-run lead, 4-2.
• Sophomore outfielder Analise Escarraman (Windham, Conn.) kept the run parade alive, slashing a single to left field, before junior catcher Allison Conger (Plainfield, Conn.) notched an RBI single through the left side, increasing the lead to 6-2 after three innings.
• USJ would tack on another run in the bottom of the fourth after another error by the Elms shortstop, before sophomore catcher Sydney Robison (Clinton, Conn.) ripped an RBI single back up the middle, plating Suriel and establishing an 8-2 lead.
• Robison would notch another RBI in the bottom of the sixth, increasing the gap to 9-2.
• Junior pitcher Paige Fekete (Watertown, Conn.), who entered the game in the sixth inning in relief of starting pitcher, classmate Kaitlyn Ouellette (Wolcott, Conn.), denied Elms any chance of a comeback attempt, perserving the win for the Blue Jays, 9-2.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Senior shortstop Jenna Zup (Berlin, Conn.) paced USJ in game one, batting 3-for-4.
• Antonowicz also had a multi-hit game, notching two hits.
• The duo also stole one base each on the day.
• Suriel scored a team-high three runs.
• Robison notched a team-best two RBI.
• Ouellette got the start inside the circle, picking up the win (5-0) after allowing two runs off four hits, while striking out three batters in 5.0 innings of work.
• Fekete threw the remaining 2.0 innings in relief, allowing only one hit while tossing two strikeouts.

GAME TWO: USJ 7, ELMS 1

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Senior pitcher Alyssa Roberts (Naugatuck, Conn.) would make history leading off the bottom of the second inning, ripping a first pitch single back up the middle, recording her 100th career hit.
• Roberts also dominated inside the circle to open the game, keeping the Blazers off the scoreboard to keep the game tied at 0-0 entering the bottom of the third.
• Antonowicz would get the Blue Jays on the board first, hitting a sacrifice fly to center field, enabling freshman outfielder Gabby Marichal (Lynn, Mass.) to score and establish a 1-0 USJ lead.
• Two batters later, Roberts continued her stellar day, launching an RBI single to the left center gap, increasing the advantage to 2-0 after three innings.
• USJ outdid themselves in the bottom of the fourth, as Marichal launched a two-RBI double to left field, increasing the gap to 4-0.
• Suriel tacked on another run with an RBI groundout back to the pitcher, while Roberts followed suite with an RBI single to left center in the next at-bat, furthering the lead to 6-0.
• The Blazers would score a run in the top of the fifth, but Carpenter cancelled it out in the bottom of the sixth with an RBI single, maintaing the six-run lead, 7-1, after six innings.
• Roberts rounded out her stellar day by setting down the Blazers in order in the top of the seventh, securing the sweep for USJ with a 7-1 game two victory.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Roberts led the team at the plate with a 3-for-4 outing, recording two RBI.
• Ouellette also posted a multi-hit game, batting 2-for-3 on the day.
• Marichal also recorded a team-best two RBI.
• Zup and freshman catcher Sadie Girgasky (Bethlehem, Conn.) both stole one base in game two.
• Roberts earned the complete game victory (4-3), allowing one run off four hits, while tossing seven strikeouts.

UP NEXT

The Blue Jays head back on the road for a GNAC South Division doubleheader against Regid College on Sunday, April 6. First pitch against the Pride at the Regis Softball Field in Weston, Mass., is slated for 5:00 p.m.

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