Softball Splits Tuesday Doubleheader In Myrtle Beach

NORTH MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. – The University of Saint Joseph (USJ) softball team split a doubleheader Tuesday in its third day of competition at the Fastpitch Dreams Spring Classic at the North Myrtle Beach Sports Complex in South Carolina. The Blue Jays were beaten by the Owls of Keene State College (KSC) in game one, 11-3, but bounced back for a 4-1 victory over the Panthers of Greenville University (GU) in game two. USJ is 3-2 on the season, averaging seven runs per game in its wins, and 2.5 runs per game in its losses.

GAME ONE
Score: Saint Joseph 3, Keene State 11 (5 Innings)
Records: USJ (2-2), KSC (3-0)
Location: NMB Sports Complex - Field 5 | North Myrtle Beach, S.C.

KEY MOMENTS

• The Blue Jays put up a three-spot in the opening frame and looked to be in control, as two runs came home behind a single from Brianna Catalani (Watertown, Conn.). This was followed up with another RBI single, this time from sophomore outfielder Isabel Milardo (Middlefield, Conn.), scoring Catalani. It looked as though USJ was going to be crossing home plate often in this one.
• The tides turned though as the Owls scored 11 unanswered runs on 11 hits. The runs came in a variety of ways (single, double, double steal, walk, passed ball) but the runs did come, putting pressure on the Blue Jays to extend the game. Saint Joseph could only muster two more hits though in the next four innings, and with a three-run fifth, Keene State ended the game under the mercy rule, 11-3.

IN THE CIRCLE

USJ – Freshman pitcher Amanda Savinelli (New Haven, Conn.) took the loss in game one (2-1) in 2.1 innings of work. She allowed seven runs on six hits and a strikeout. Freshman Alexis Faucher (Killingly, Conn.) pitched two and a third innings in relief, allowing four runs on five hits.

KSC – Freshman Carissa Miller (Lee, N.H.) made it 2-0 to start the season, pitching all five innings and allowing three runs (0 ER) on five hits, striking out three batters in total.

GAME TWO
Score: Greenville 1, Saint Joseph 4
Records: GU (2-9), USJ (3-2)
Location: NMB Sports Complex - Field 5 | North Myrtle Beach, S.C.

KEY MOMENTS

• The Blue Jays finished their first game of the Myrtle Beach trip not to feature extra innings or the mercy rule.  The Panthers got the upper hand with the game's first run – a scorching triple down the left field line from junior Morgan Wendling (Anna, Ill.) to make it 1-0 in the top of the third. USJ got that run back plus one more in the bottom half thanks to a wild pitch and a single front and center from senior Kacy O'Connor (Milford, Conn.). 2-1 USJ after three.
• The USJ pitching came up big with some insurance runs in the fourth and sixth. Savinelli, along with sophomore Adriana Quealy (East Hartford, Conn.) each had a run cross home plate in their respective at-bats. With a 4-1 lead, and USJ pitching continuously getting out of jams, it all looked in hand heading to the final stanza.
• Greenville did manage to get a two-out single, but any chance of a threat was quickly erased when Wendling flied out to end the contest. Saint Joseph is now 3-2 through five games on the Myrtle Beach trip.

IN THE CIRCLE

GU – Freshman Melissa Bernal (Swansea, Ill.), dropped to 2-1 on the season in a six-inning performance. She allowed four runs (3 ER) on eight hits, striking out five.

USJ – Freshman pitcher Amanda Savinelli (New Haven, Conn.) improved to 3-1 this season after four innings of relief. She threw a three-hit shutout in those four innings to secure the win. Quealy threw three innings at the start and struck out three. She allowed just the one run and three hits.

COACH QUOTE [Jim McKinnon] 
"We did not play our game against Keene State. Too many errors, mental mistakes and we stopped hitting after the first inning. Our second game vs Greenville was a much better overall performance. Amanda Savinelli gave it her all today; she lost the first game, but came right back to close the door in the second game. She showed a lot of heart. We had timely hitting, good base running, and superb defense. A nice way to end the day!"

UP NEXT
The Blue Jays still have two days of Myrtle Beach softball to go. The penultimate day kicks off on Wednesday, March 16 in a battle against Lancaster Bible at 9:30 a.m. and an 11:30 a.m. showdown is set to follow against Wilson College. Head over to www.usjbluejays.com to catch all the action live!

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