Softball Sweeps Doubleheader at Baruch Friday Afternoon

NEW YORK – The University of Saint Joseph (USJ) softball team got back in the win column Friday afternoon, sweeping a non-conference doubleheader against Baruch College (Baruch) at Randall's Island Park in New York City. The Blue Jays took the victory in game one, 4-1, before completing the sweep with a 10-8 victory in game two, which was called after five innings due to darkness. With the results, USJ improved to 7-8 overall, while the Bearcats dropped to 5-11 on the year.

GAME ONE: USJ 4, Baruch 1

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The game began as a pitchers duel as junior Kaitlyn Ouellette (Wolcott, Conn.), who got the start in game one, held the Bearcats off the scoreboard as the game reached the fourth inning deadlocked at 0-0.
• USJ broke open the scoring in the top of the fourth as junior outfielder Avianna Ibrahim (Colchester, Conn.) slashed an RBI single to left field, plating Ouellette to establish a 1-0 edge.
• Two batters later, sophomore infielder Jennifer Antonowicz (Wolcott, Conn.) took advantge of a bases-loaded situation, ripping a two-RBI single to center that plated Ibrahim and Sophomore outfielder Analise Escarraman (Windham, Conn.), and increasing the gap to 3-0.
• Baruch would score a run in the bottom of the fifth, cutting the advantage to 3-1 after five innings.
• USJ answered back in the top of the sixth though, as an error enabled senior shortstop Jenna Zup (Berlin, Conn.) to cross home and reestablish a three-run lead, 4-1.
• Ouellette shutout the Bearcats the rest of the way, securin the victory for USJ, 4-1.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Ibrahim and freshman catcher Sadie Girgasky (Bethlehem, Conn.) paced the team with 2-for-4 outings at the plate.
• Antonowicz notched a team-high three RBI.
• Zup stole two bases on the day, while Girgasky notched one.
• Ouellette picked up the complete game victory (4-0) after allowing one run off eight hits, while striking out six Bearcats.

GAME TWO: USJ 10, Baruch 8 (5 INNINGS)

HOW IT HAPPENED

• After a scoreless first inning, junior catcher Allison Conger (Plainfield, Conn.) came up clutch in the top of the second, slashing a two-out, two-RBI double to center field, establishing a 2-0 USJ edge.
• In the next at-bat, Zup ripped a single to center field, scoring Conger to increased the lead to 3-0.
• USJ carried the momentum into the third inning, as Ouellette would score on a wild pitch to give USJ a 4-0 advantage.
• Freshman outfielder Gabby Marichal (Lynn, Mass.) then stepped-up, recording an RBI-single that plated freshman outfielder Lorynes Suriel (Lynn, Mass.) and increased the gap to 5-0.
• Marichal would later come home to score off a passed ball, before Conger and Zup recorded back-to-back RBI knocks, establishing an 8-0 edge after three innings.
• Escarraman, who got the start in game two, continued to shutdown the Baruch bats, keeping the Bearcats off the board.
• Senior first baseman Alex Silver (Vernon, Conn.) rewarded her pitcher in the top of the fourth, notching a two-RBI single to extend the gap to 10-0.
• However, the Bearcats started to mount a comeback, scoring one run in the bottom of the fourth, before exploding for seven runs in the bottom of the fifth, closing the gap to 10-8.
• Baruch would not be able to continue its momentum though, as the game was called due to darkness, securing the win for USJ, 10-8, after five innings.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Zup, Marichal and Conger all recorded a team-high two hits in game two.
• Conger paced the team with three RBI.
• Escarraman got the start, picking up the win (1-4) after surrendering eight runs off 10 hits, while striking out five batters in 4.2 innings of work.
• Freshman Brenna Lyver (Enfield, Conn.) threw the remaining 0.1 innings in relief, securing the final out for USJ to earn her first career save.

UP NEXT

The Blue Jays begin Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) play on Sunday, March 30, heading to New Haven, Conn., to face rivals Albertus Magnus College for a doubleheader. First pitch of game one against the Falcons at the Shea Softball Complex is set for noon.

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