Softball Bests Purchase College Twice in Home Doubleheader on Friday

GAME ONE | USJ 16, PURCHASE 10

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Purchase jumped out to an early lead, scoring three runs in the first before adding three more in the top of the second to build a 6–0 advantage.
• Senior outfielder Avianna Ibrahim (Colchester, Conn.) put USJ on the board in the bottom of the third, launching a two-run home run over the right-center fence to cut the deficit to 6–2.
• The Panthers responded with three runs in the top of the fourth, extending their lead to 9–2.
• USJ answered in the bottom half of the inning, as sophomore catcher Sadie Girgasky (Bethlehem, Conn.) delivered an RBI single to center field to make it 9–3.
• Freshman infielder Gracie Browne (Bristol, Conn.) followed with an RBI single in the next at-bat, before Ibrahim ripped a two-RBI triple to left field to bring USJ within three, 9–6.
• Junior outfielder Rachel Brewer-Karimi (Torrington, Conn.) capped the rally with a two-RBI single down the left-field line, trimming the deficit to 9–8.
• Purchase added a run in the top of the fifth, but Browne and Ibrahim responded with back-to-back RBI doubles in the bottom half of the inning to tie the game at 10–10.
• USJ then took its first lead of the game, as Ibrahim and junior infielder Jennifer Antonowicz (Wolcott, Conn.) both scored on wild pitches to make it 12–10.
• Sophomore infielder Kayla Phelps (Wolcott, Conn.) broke the game open later in the inning with a grand slam, giving the Blue Jays a 16–10 lead after five innings.
• Senior pitcher Kaitlyn Ouellette (Wolcott, Conn.), who entered in relief in the fourth, shut down the Panthers the rest of the way to secure the victory.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Ibrahim led the offense, going 3-for-4 with five RBI and three runs scored.
• Browne and Brewer-Karimi each recorded three hits.
• Phelps hit her team-leading third home run of the season, while Ibrahim added her second.
• Antonowicz recorded USJ's lone stolen base.
• Senior Analise Escarraman (Windham, Conn.) started and received a no-decision, allowing eight runs on six hits while striking out three over 3.1 innings.
• Ouellette earned the win (4–1), allowing two runs on five hits while striking out two over 3.2 innings in relief.

GAME TWO | USJ 10, PURCHASE 2 (SIX INNINGS)

HOW IT HAPPENED

• After two scoreless innings, Purchase threatened to break through by loading the bases with two outs in the third, but sophomore pitcher Brenna Lyver (Enfield, Conn.) recorded the final out to keep the game even.
• The Panthers pushed across a run in the following inning to take a 1–0 lead.
• USJ answered in the bottom of the fourth, as sophomore infielder Camille Jones (Lawrence Twp., N.J.) delivered an RBI triple to tie the game at 1–1.
• Freshman infielder Gracie Browne (Bristol, Conn.) followed with a bunt single that allowed Jones to score, giving the Blue Jays a 2–1 advantage.
• USJ added to its lead in the fifth, as senior outfielder Kaitlyn Ouellette (Wolcott, Conn.) recorded an RBI single to make it 3–1. Two batters later, a Purchase error allowed two more runs to score, extending the lead to 5–1.
• Purchase responded with a run in the sixth to cut the deficit to 5–2, but USJ answered in the bottom half of the inning. Junior outfielder Rachel Brewer-Karimi (Torrington, Conn.) drove in a run with a single to left, before senior outfielder Madelyn Ellis (Newington, Conn.) drew a bases-loaded walk to make it 7–2.
• Sophomore infielder Kayla Phelps (Wolcott, Conn.) followed with a two-RBI single, and Girgasky ended the game with an RBI single to secure the 10–2 run-rule victory in six innings.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Antonowicz and Brewer-Karimi each recorded two hits.
• Phelps led the team with three RBI.
• Ouellette drew a game-high two walks.
• Brewer-Karimi stole two bases, while sophomore outfielder Lorynes Suriel (Lynn, Mass.) and Ibrahim each added one.
• Lyver earned the win (1–1), allowing one unearned run on two hits over 5.0 innings.
• Senior Paige Fekete (Watertown, Conn.) pitched 1.0 inning in relief, allowing one run on one hit.

UP NEXT

The Blue Jays continue an eight-game homestand with a non-conference doubleheader against Salem State on Monday, April 6. First pitch against the Vikings at the USJ Softball Field is set for 3:00 p.m.

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