Softball Sweeps Wednesday Doubleheader In Myrtle Beach

NORTH MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. – The University of Saint Joseph (USJ) softball team swept a doubleheader Wednesday in its fourth day of competition at the Fastpitch Dreams Spring Classic at the North Myrtle Beach Sports Complex in South Carolina. The Blue Jays knocked off the Chargers of Lancaster Bible College (LBC) in game one, 7-2, before finishing the day with a 4-1 victory over the Phoenix of Wilson College (WC) in game two. USJ is 5-2 on the season, and has won its last three games.
 
GAME ONE
Score: Saint Joseph 7, Lancaster Bible 2
Records: USJ (4-2), LBC (0-7)
Location: NMB Sports Complex - Field 4 | North Myrtle Beach, S.C.

KEY MOMENTS

• The Blue Jays did most of their damage in the second inning behind three big-time runs to make it a 3-1 ballgame. The inning was ignited by freshman shortstop Jenna Zup (Berlin, Conn.) who launched a triple to right, scoring two. Freshman second baseman Amanda Savinelli (New Haven, Conn.) added a third run.
• Sophomore outfielder Isabel Milardo (Middlefield, Conn.) added a pair of runs in the fifth to push the lead to four at 5-1 on a rocket double. Saint Joseph added two more runs to walk away with a decisive victory.

IN THE CIRCLE

USJ – Sophomore pitcher Adriana Quealy (East Hartford, Conn.) secured her first-career win Wednesday in dominant fashion, allowing just two runs (1 ER) on six hits in a complete game.

LBC – Alyssa Hamilton was dealt the loss (0-3) with seven runs (4 ER) on eight hits in seven innings of play. She also struck out four.

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

KEY MOMENTS

• For the second straight game, USJ trailed 1-0 before the offense came alive. This time it was a bases-clearing double in the fourth that turned the game upside-down. Senior centerfielder Riley Mulligan (Lincoln, R.I.) was behind the big-time play. It rallied the Blue Jays who put the clamps down on a tremendous fourth day down in Myrtle Beach, as an insurance run in the fifth was more than enough with Amato in control in the circle.

IN THE CIRCLE

WC – Naomi Butterfield was dealt the loss (0-2) in a five-inning effort that saw her only allow one earned run but four runs in total on six hits. She struck out four.

USJ – Senior pitcher Natalie Amato (Cheshire, Conn.) took down the win, her first of 2022 (1-1) in a five-hit, one-run effort that went seven innings strong. She also struck out 11, the most by a Blue Jays pitcher this season.

COACH QUOTE [Jim McKinnon] 
"It was a very good day for us. Adriana Quealy and Natalie Amato both pitched complete games and our defense made only one error in the two games. Offensively we were in a really good spot with Jenna Zup having three extra base hits and Isabel Milardo reaching base four times in the first game alone. It was a solid performance in all three phases of the game (pitching, hitting, and defense), and we are looking to keep it rolling at our last doubleheader tomorrow."

UP NEXT
The Blue Jays go back at it for one more day of the Myrtle Beach softball trip. The final day kicks off on Thursday, March 17 in a battle against Albright at 9:30 a.m. An 11:30 a.m. showdown is set to follow against Mass-Boston. Head over to usjbluejays.com to catch all the action live!

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