Softball Overwhelms Brooklyn, Falls to Geneva on Day Three of Gene Cusic Collegiate Classic

NAPLES, Fla. – The University of Saint Joseph (USJ) softball team split a doubleheader Tuesday morning during the third day of the Gene Cusic Collegiate Classic at North Collier Regional Park in Naples, Fla. The Blue Jays breezed past Brooklyn College (Brooklyn), 17-4, in five innings in the opener, before falling to Geneva College (Geneva), 2-0, to close out the day. With the results, USJ moves to 2-4, while the Bulldogs dropped to 0-5 and the Golden Tornadoes moved to 3-1 overall.

GAME ONE | USJ 17, BROOKLYN 4 (FIVE INNINGS)

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Bulldogs immediately put runs on the board, scoring twice in the top of the first to grab a quick 2-0 edge.
• However, USJ fired right back, as sophomore outfielder Lorynes Suriel (Lynn, Mass.) notched an RBI single to left, cutting the gap to 2-1.
• Two batters later, sophomore infielder Camille Jones (Lawrence Twp., N.J.) drew a bases-loaded walk, tying the game at 2-2, before sophomore catcher Sadie Girgasky (Bethlehem, Conn.) hit an infield single that plated Suriel and established a 3-2 Blue Jays lead.
• Brooklyn responded with two runs in the top of the second, retaking the lead, 4-3.
• In the top of the third, senior pitcher Kaitlyn Ouellette (Wolcott, Conn.) achieved her 100th career strikeout, recording the second out via a swinging strikeout to achieve the feat.
• USJ put the game to rest in the bottom of the third, scoring 14 runs, starting with a Girgasky RBI single through the left side.
• Jones was then able to advance home via a wild pitch, before Girgasky crossed the plate after junior infielder Jennifer Antonowicz (Wolcott, Conn.) recorded a fielder's choice.
• On the next play, senior outfielder Avianna Ibrahim (Colchester, Conn.) crossed home after freshman infielder Gracie Browne (Bristol, Conn.) laid down a bunt, before Antonowicz scored off Browne's steal attempt.
• Browne was able to cross home herself, stealing third before another wild pitch enabled her to touch home. Three batters later, Suriel continued the run parade with an RBI single to left, while Jones notched a two-RBI single to center before Girgasky slashed an RBI double to left, plating Jones.
• Ibrahim then notched an RBI of her own, ripping a single through the left side, before Ouellette notched a two-RBI triple to left.
• Ouellette concluded the massive inning by crossing home after an error by the Brooklyn first baseman, establishing a 17-4 USJ lead.
• Ouellette cruised through the final two innings, setting down the final six batters in order to secure the win for the Blue Jays, 17-4.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Girgasky paced the offense with a perfect 3-for-3 outing at the plate, tallying three RBI and two runs scored.
• Suriel and Ibrahim also recorded multi-hit games, slashing two hits each.
• Jones also notched three RBI, while Ouellette and Suriel recorded two RBI each.
• As a team, the Blue Jays drew nine walks.
• Browne swiped a season-high three steals on the day.
• Ouellette picked up the complete-game win (2-0), allowing four runs off three hits, while tossing four strikeouts.
• The 17 runs are the most in a single game for USJ since March 26, 2022, when the Blue Jays recorded a 24-6 win over Bay Path.

GAME TWO | USJ 0, GENEVA 2

HOW IT HAPPENED

• After a scoreless first two innings, Geneva scored twice in the bottom of the third to take a 2-0 edge.
• The Golden Tornadoes tried to tack onto their lead in the bottom of the fifth, loading the bases, but sophomore infielder Sophia Onofrio (Naugatuck, Conn.) was able to make a play at second to get the force out and end the inning without surrendering a run.
• USJ had a great chance to cut into the deficit, loading the bases with two outs in the top of the seventh, but Geneva was able to record the final out and secure the win, 2-0.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Five different Blue Jays notched hits.
• Sophomore Brenna Lyver (Enfield, Conn.) got the start in the circle, picking up the loss (0-1) after throwing a complete-game and allowing two runs off nine hits, while recording one strikeout.

UP NEXT

The Blue Jays continue the Gene Cusic Collegiate Classic tomorrow, Wednesday, March 11, with two games against La Roche University and Pitt.-Bradford. First pitch against the Red Hawks in Fort Myers, Fla., is scheduled for 9:00 a.m., followed by an 11:00 a.m. matchup against the Panthers.

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