Softball Splits Doubleheader at Home With John Jay College Tuesday

WEST HARTFORD, Conn. – The University of Saint Joseph (USJ) softball team split a non-conference doubleheader against John Jay College (John Jay), Tuesday afternoon on the USJ Softball Field in West Hartford, Conn. The Blue Jays took game one, 8-5, but fell in game two, 8-7, to the Bloodhounds.
 
GAME ONE
Score: USJ 8, John Jay 5
Records: USJ (13-11), John Jay (15-11)
Location: USJ Softball Field | West Hartford, Conn.

HOW IT HAPPENED

John Jay gained the early lead in game one, taking a 1-0 edge after the opening inning. The Bloodhounds nearly doubled the gap in the second, but freshman pitcher Kaitlyn Ouellette (Wolcott, Conn.) stranded two runners on base, throwing two strikeouts to set John Jay down and end the inning. However, the Bloodhounds would tack on a run in the top of the third, increasing the gap to 2-0.

USJ would not go down easy, rallying in the bottom of the fourth. Sophomore first baseman Alyssa Roberts (Naugatuck, Conn.) lead off the inning with a single, while senior outfielder Jenna Masiello (Cromwell, Conn.) followed up with a single of her own, getting two runners on both. After two quick outs, freshman outfielder Madelyn Ellis (Newington, Conn.) came up clutch, slashing a single to right, plating Masiello and Roberts to tie the game at 2-2.

The Blue Jays carried the momentum into the bottom of the fifth, as freshman Jordyn Fitch (Andover, Conn.), recorded as single to begin the inning, while senior catcher Kelsie LaHouse (Coventry, Conn.) and Roberts drew walks to load the bases. Fitch would be called out at home after a fielder's choice, but a Wild pitch in the next at-bat enable LaHouse to cross home plate, establishing a 3-2 USJ edge. The run parade continued as freshman shortstop Alexis Volinsky (Berwick, Maine) tallied a double to center, scoring Masiello and Roberts, while an Ouellete triple to right allowed Volinsky to score, increasing the advantage to 6-2. Ellis rounded out the monstrous inning for the Blue Jays, slashing a single through the left side, plating classmate outfielder McKenzie Fairfax (Waterbury, Conn.) to extend the lead to 7-2 through five innings.

John Jay would not go away though, scoring a run in the top of the sixth, but a Roberts single which allowed Milardo to score in the bottom of the frame, increased the USJ edge to 8-3. The Bloodhounds managed to score two more runs in the seventh, but Ouellette closed the door, securing an 8-5 victory for USJ in game one.

IN THE CIRCLE

USJ – Ouellette saw the start in the circle, picking up the complete game win (4-3), allowing five runs, four of which were earned, off 15 hits, throwing four strikeouts.

JOHN JAY – Jailene Santiago got the start inside the circle for the Bloodhounds, picking up the loss (12-4) after allowing eight runs off 10 hits, throwing six strikeouts in 6.0 innings of work.

GAME TWO
Score: USJ 7, John Jay 8
Records: USJ (13-12), John Jay (16-11)

HOW IT HAPPENED

After a quiet first inning, the Bloodhounds broke open the scoring with four runs in the top of the second. The Blue Jays responded in kind in the bottom of the third, exploding offensively to take the lead. Freshman first baseman Allison Conger (Plainfield, Conn.) began the inning with a walk, while a John Jay error allowing Fairfax to reach second base in the next at-bat, putting Conger on third. Sophomore Elaina Previty (Pawcatuck, Conn.) continued the run, slashing a single to left, scoring Fairfax and Conger, cutting the gap to 4-2. Masiello followed suit later in the inning, doubling to the right center gap to score Milardo and Previty, while Volisnky slashed a two-RBI double of her own, establishing a 6-4 USJ lead through three innings.

John Jay cut the gap to one, 6-5, after the top of the fourth, but a costly error saw the Blue Jays reestablish a two-run lead, 7-5, in the bottom of the inning. However, the Bloodhounds used a big sixth inning to storm back and reestablish its lead, 8-7, entering the bottom of the seventh. With two outs, USJ had runners on second and third, but the Bloodhounds picked up the final out, completing the comeback victory in game two, 8-7.

IN THE CIRCLE

USJ – Roberts saw the start in game two for the Blue Jays, picking up the loss (5-5) after allowing eight runs, three of which were earned, off eight hits in 5.2 innings of work. Freshman Tessa D'Aquila (Old Saybrook, Conn.) pitched 0.2 innings in relief, allowing four hits, while Ouellette threw the remaining 0.2 innings, surrendering one hit.

JOHN JAY – Makenzie Tresch got the start in game two, earning a no-decision after allowing five runs, four of which were earned, off three hits in 2.0 innings. Santiago got the win for John Jay (13-4), throwing 5.0 innings in relief, allowing two runs, one earned, off six hits and throwing four strikeouts.

COACH QUOTE [Jim McKinnon]
"We have been really hitting the ball and have shown we can come from behind and win games. We battled both games today to earn the split. I am looking forward to tomorrow against another tough team in Western Connecticut."

UP NEXT
The Blue Jays quickly return to action, hosting intrastate foe Western Connecticut State University, tomorrow, Wednesday, April 12. First pitch against the Wolves in West Hartford, Conn. is set for 3:00 p.m.

Follow USJ Athletics
For the latest on University of Saint Joseph Athletics, follow the Blue Jays on social media on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.

Fans can also download the USJ Front Row Mobile App and subscribe to our Newsletter and Text Alerts. #FearTheFlock #GoBlueJays