Softball Increases Winning Streak to Eight, Sweeps Home GNAC Doubleheader Against Dean

WEST HARTFORD, Conn. – The University of Saint Joseph (USJ) softball team extended its winning streak to eight games, sweeping a home Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) South Division doubleheader against Dean College (Dean), Sunday afternoon at the USJ Softball Field in West Hartford, Conn. Senior shortstop Jenna Zup (Berlin, Conn.) secured the victory for USJ in game one, 3-2, after a walk-off single, before the Blue Jays secured the sweep with an 8-1 victory in the finale. The eight-game winning streak is the longest for the Blue Jays since the 2019 campaign, when the team also won eight consecutive games. With the results, the Blue Jays improve to 15-10 overall, 8-2 in GNAC play, and 8-2 in the South Division, while the Bulldogs drop to 5-13 overall, 0-6 in the GNAC and 0-6 in the South Division.

GAME ONE: USJ 3, DEAN 2

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The game started as a pitchers duel, as junior hurler Paige Fekete (Watertown, Conn.) would set the Bulldogs down in order across the opening two innings, preserving a 0-0 scoreline.
• USJ broke the deadlock in the bottom of the third, as junior outfielder Kaitlyn Ouellette (Wolcott, Conn.) launched an RBI-triple to the right-center gap, plating classmate Aviana Ibrahim (Colchester, Conn.) and establishing a 1-0 lead.
• Both team's then fell quiet offensively, as USJ maintained the 1-0 edge through five innings.
• Dean took the lead in the top of the sixth, scoring two runs to hold a 2-1 lead entering the bottom of the seventh inning.
• Junior infielder Emma Carpenter (Brooklyn, Conn.) led off the bottom of the seventh inning with a single, before moving to second after a sacrifice bunt from junior catcher Allison Conger (Plainfield, Conn.).
• In the next at-bat, Ibrahim would reach first via an error, before stealing second, putting runners on second and third for Zup. Zup took full advantage of the situation, slashing a single field, enabling Carpenter and Ibrahim to score and win the game for USJ, 3-2.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Zup paced the team with her two-RBI.
• Four different Blue Jays recorded one hit.
• Ibrahim stole the lone base.
• Fekete took home the complete-game victory (3-3), allowing two unearned runs off two hits, while tying her career-high of nine strikeouts.

GAME TWO: USJ 8, DEAN 1

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Dean grabbed the early lead in game two, scoring one run in the top of the second to establish a 1-0 edge.
• USJ responded in the bottom of the third, as Ouellette notched a two-RBI single through the right side to swing the lead in USJ's favor, 2-1.
• Senior pitcher Alyssa Roberts (Naugatuck, Conn.) then launched an RBI-triple to the right-center gap, scoring Ouellette and increasing the edge to 3-1 after three innings.
• After a scoreless fourth, USJ would tack on more runs in the bottom of the fifth, as Roberts tallied another RBI-triple, plating Zup and extending the advantage to 4-1.
• Senior infielder Brianna Catalani (Watertown, Conn.) continued the run-parade in the next at-bat, slashing an RBI-single to right field and increasing the edge to 5-1.
• Senior infielder Alex Silver (Vernon, Conn.) followed suit with an RBI-single of her own, before Ibrahim notched a two-run triple to right field, extending the USJ advantage to 8-1.
• Roberts continued her stellar day, setting down the Bulldogs in order during the final two innings, securing the victory for the Blue Jays, 8-1.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Roberts batted a perfect 3-for-3 in game two, launching a career-best two triples.
• Ouellette, Ibrahim and Roberts all recorded a team-high two RBI.
• Roberts earned the complete-game victory (6-3), allowing one unearned run off five hits, while throwing three strikeouts.

UP NEXT

The Blue Jays continue a six-game homestand on Tuesday, April 15, hosting Massachusetts Maritime for a non-conference doubleheader. First pitch of game one at the USJ Softball Field against the Buccaneers is set for 3:00 p.m.

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