Softball Drops Opening-Day Doubleheader to Bethany at Gene Cusic Collegiate Classic

GAME ONE | USJ 0, BETHANY 5

HOW IT HAPPENED

• After a scoreless first inning, Bethany struck first in the second, scoring three runs to take a 3–0 lead.
• USJ nearly responded in the top of the third when sophomore outfielder Lorynes Suriel (Lynn, Mass.) singled with two outs, stole second, and advanced to third on an error. However, she was left stranded as the Bison held their 3–0 advantage.
• Bethany threatened again in the fifth, loading the bases with one out, but senior pitcher Kaitlyn Ouellette (Wolcott, Conn.)—who entered in relief to start the inning—shut the door with back‑to‑back strikeouts to keep the deficit at three.
• The Bison added two insurance runs in the sixth and kept USJ off the board in the seventh to secure the 5–0 victory.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Sophomore infielder Kayla Phelps (Wolcott, Conn.) led the Blue Jays at the plate, going 2-for-3.
• Suriel, sophomore infielder Sophia Onofrio (Naugatuck, Conn.), and freshman infielder Gracie Browne (Bristol, Conn.) each stole a base.
• Senior Paige Fekete (Watertown, Conn.) took the loss (0–1) after allowing three runs on six hits with one strikeout across 4.0 innings.
• Ouellette worked the final 2.0 innings, giving up two runs on five hits and striking out two.

GAME TWO | USJ 5, BETHANY 16 (Six Innings)

HOW IT HAPPENED

• For the second straight game, the teams played a scoreless first inning before Bethany erupted for six runs in the bottom of the second to take a 6–0 lead.
• The Bison added another run in the third, but USJ answered in the top half when Onofrio singled to center, driving in junior outfielder Rachel Brewer‑Karimi (Torrington, Conn.) to make it 7–1.
• Bethany pushed its lead to 8–1 in the fourth, but the Blue Jays responded with a four‑run inning. Senior outfielder Avianna Ibrahim (Colchester, Conn.) scored on a Bison throwing error, and in the next at‑bat, junior catcher Sydney Robison (Clinton, Conn.) singled through the right side to score sophomore infielder Gabby Marichal (Lynn, Mass.).
• Phelps later scored on another error before Ouellette ripped a triple to right‑center, bringing home sophomore catcher Sadie Girgasky (Bethlehem, Conn.) to cut the deficit to 8–5.
• Bethany, however, pulled away for good with an eight‑run sixth inning while holding USJ off the scoreboard the rest of the way, sealing the run‑rule win.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Brewer‑Karimi led the Blue Jays in game two with a 2‑for‑3 performance.
• Ouellette, Onofrio, and Robison each recorded an RBI.
• Senior Analise Escarraman (Windham, Conn.) started in the circle and took the loss (0–1), allowing six runs (one earned) on four hits over 1.2 innings.
• Sophomore Brenna Lyver (Enfield, Conn.) pitched 3.2 innings of relief, giving up four runs—two earned—on eight hits.
• Fekete worked 0.1 innings, while senior Jordyn Fitch (Andover, Conn.) threw the final 0.2 innings.

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