Softball Bests La Roche and Pitt.-Bradford on Fourth Day of Gene Cusic Collegiate Classic

GAME ONE | USJ 8, LA ROCHE 6

HOW IT HAPPENED

• La Roche jumped on the Blue Jays early, scoring five runs in the bottom of the first inning to take a 5–0 lead.
• USJ responded in the top of the second when a La Roche error allowed sophomore outfielder Lorynes Suriel (Lynn, Mass.) to score, trimming the deficit to 5–1.
• In the third, sophomore Brenna Lyver (Enfield, Conn.) delivered a clutch, bases‑loaded two‑RBI single to right, scoring sophomore infielder Sophia Onofrio (Naugatuck, Conn.) and senior Jordyn Fitch (Andover, Conn.) to pull USJ within one, 5–4.
• The Red Hawks answered with a run in the bottom of the inning to regain a two‑run cushion at 6–4.
• After a scoreless fourth, the Blue Jays continued to chip away in the fifth as Suriel crossed the plate on another La Roche error, cutting the deficit to 6–5.
• La Roche held the lead until the top of the seventh, when sophomore catcher Sadie Girgasky (Bethlehem, Conn.) beat the throw home to tie the game at 6–6.
• Two batters later, senior outfielder Madelyn Ellis (Newington, Conn.) delivered a two‑RBI double down the left‑field line to give USJ its first lead of the game, 8–6.
• Senior pitcher Kaitlyn Ouellette (Wolcott, Conn.), who entered to start the bottom of the seventh, retired the Red Hawks in order to secure the comeback victory.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Sophomore infielder Gabby Marichal (Lynn, Mass.) led the offense, going 2‑for‑4.
• Lyver recorded a team‑high three RBI, while Ellis drove in two.
• Suriel swiped a game‑best two bases.
• Senior Analise Escarraman (Windham, Conn.) earned a no‑decision after allowing six runs on 10 hits with two strikeouts over 5.0 innings.
• Senior Paige Fekete (Watertown, Conn.) picked up the win (1–0) with one perfect inning of relief.
• Ouellette earned the save (1), tossing a scoreless seventh without allowing a hit.

GAME TWO | USJ 9, PITT-BRADFORD 5

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Pitt‑Bradford struck first with two runs in the top of the first inning.
• USJ answered immediately, scoring five runs in the bottom half. Sophomore infielder Kayla Phelps (Wolcott, Conn.) opened the scoring with an RBI single.
• Two batters later, junior catcher Sydney Robison (Clinton, Conn.) lined a two‑RBI single through the right side to put USJ ahead, 3–2.
• Girgasky followed with an RBI single to left, and senior outfielder Avianna Ibrahim (Colchester, Conn.) added another RBI single to extend the lead to 5–2.
• The Panthers responded with two runs in the second, but freshman infielder Gracie Browne (Bristol, Conn.) scored on an error in the bottom of the inning to maintain a two‑run edge at 6–4.
• After a scoreless fourth, Suriel scored on a Pitt‑Bradford error in the fifth to push the lead to 7–4.
• The Blue Jays added two more in the inning as Ouellette drew a bases‑loaded walk and Suriel drove in a run with an RBI single to right, extending the advantage to 9–4.
• Pitt‑Bradford plated one run in the sixth, but Fekete shut down the Panthers the rest of the way to seal the 9–5 victory and the doubleheader sweep.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Junior infielder Jennifer Antonowicz (Wolcott, Conn.) and Ibrahim each collected two hits.
• Robison led the team with two RBI.
• Browne, Phelps, and sophomore infielder Camille Jones (Lawrence Twp., N.J.) each drew two walks.
• Ibrahim recorded the lone stolen base for USJ.
• Lyver earned a no‑decision after allowing four runs (three earned) on five hits over 2.0 innings.
• Fekete pitched the final 5.0 innings in relief to earn her second win of the day (2–2), surrendering one unearned run on five hits while striking out three.

UP NEXT

The Blue Jays wrap up play at the Gene Cusic Collegiate Classic on Thursday, March 12, with games against Crown College and Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) foe Elms College. First pitch against the Polars in Fort Myers, Fla., is scheduled for 9:00 a.m., followed by an 11:00 a.m. matchup against the Blazers.

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