Softball Opens GNAC Tournament With Victory Over Rival Albertus Magnus

NEW HAVEN, Conn. – The South Division third-seeded University of Saint Joseph (USJ) softball team opened the 2025 Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Tournament Thursday afternoon, taking down South Division second-seeded and intrastate rival Albertus Magnus College (Albertus), 5-3, in the opening game of Pod A play at the Shea Softball Complex in New Haven, Conn. With the result, the Blue Jays (19-17) move into the winner's bracket of Pod A and await the winner of tonight's Rivier University and Saint Joseph's College of Maine game, who they will play on Friday. The Falcons (25-16) drop into the loser's bracket and will now play in an elimination game tomorrow against the loser of the aforementioned matchup. All Pod A games going forward are set to take place at Raider Diamond in Nashua, N.H.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Falcons grabbed an early lead, scoring one run in the bottom half of the first to hold a 1-0 edge.
• USJ answered in the top of the fourth, as sophomore infielder Jennifer Antonowicz (Wolcott, Conn.) led off the inning with a double to the right-center gap. Two batters later, senior first baseman Alyssa Roberts (Naugatuck, Conn.) notched an RBI double, plating Antonowicz and tying the game at 1-1.
• In the next at-bat, freshman outfielder Gabby Marichal (Lynn, Mass.) hit a single back up the middle, scoring freshman Gianna Quaresima (Rocky Hill, Conn.), who entered the game as a pinch runner for Roberts, and establishing a 2-1 USJ edge after four innings.
• The momentum carried over into the top of the fifth, as Antonowicz slashed an RBI single to right field, increasing the gap to 3-1.
• Junior outfielder Kaitlyn Ouellette (Wolcott, Conn.) continued the run parade, launching an RBI double to center field, plating senior shortstop Jenna Zup (Berlin, Conn.) and extending the USJ edge to 4-1.
• The Falcons responded in the bottom half of the frame, scoring two runs to close the deficit to one, 4-3, after five innings.
• USJ immediately answered in the top of the sixth, as senior Brianna Catalani (Watertown, Conn.) who entered the game as a pinch hitter, launched the ball over the left field fence, increasing the advantage to 5-3.
• Roberts shut the door in the seventh, retiring the Falcons to seal the victory.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Antonowicz paced the team with a 2-for-4 outing at the plate.
• Five different Blue Jays recorded one RBI.
• Junior outfielder Avianna Ibrahim (Colchester, Conn.) stole the lone base for USJ.
• Junior Paige Fekete (Watertown, Conn.) got the start inside the circle, picking up the win (6-6) after tossing five strikeouts while allowing three runs off six hits across 4.2 innings.
• Roberts earned her first career save, tossing 2.1 scoreless, hitless innings with two strikeouts.

UP NEXT

USJ travels to Nashua, N.H., for the remainder of Pod A play, beginning with a matchup against the winner of hosts Rivier University versus Saint Joseph's College of Maine on Friday, May 2. First pitch at Raider Diamond is yet to be determined.

FOLLOW
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