Lady Eagles Rally Late to Earn Doubleheader Split with Farmingdale

Patchogue, N.Y. – The St. Joseph's Golden Eagles (17-8, 9-3 Skyline) dropped game one, 7-3, after a six-run third inning from the Farmingdale State Rams (12-11, 5-3 Skyline) and were well on their way to losing game two, but the Eagles scored four runs in the sixth and seventh innings to complete a dramatic comeback to win, 7-6.

Before the games the Golden Eagles hosted their annual Little League Days event.  After game one was completed, the the team held a number retirement ceremony for NCAA statistical champion and record holder Jennifer Martinez '08.

The Rams were the first to score in game one with a two-RBI single in the third inning. Two batters later, with bases loaded, Michelle Mongiello of Farmingdale drilled a ball to deep left field that bounced off the top of the wall and out of the park for a grand slam to put the Rams up six.  Melanie Boccio (Manorville, N.Y./Eastport-South Manor) got two runs back for the Eagles with a two-RBI double to drive home Julianne Tierney (Bethpage, N.Y./Bethpage) and Samantha Carcano (Centereach, N.Y./Newfield) but Mongiello produced another run for Farmingdale with a sixth inning RBI double. Nicole Reda (Saint James, N.Y./Our Lady of Mercy) hit an RBI double in the seventh but it wasn't enough as the Eagles dropped game one.

Boccio went 2-for-4 with two RBIs and Carcano finished 2-for-4 with two runs scored. Cassie Martinez (Centereach, N.Y./Centereach) did not have her best performance on Sunday surrendering seven runs on fourteen hits over seven innings.

Martinez was not able to bounce back in game two as she gave up two runs to the Rams in the first inning on three hits. Once again, Farmingdale piled the runs on with three more in the third inning forcing Martinez out of the game. Megan Leun (Hauppauge, N.Y./Hauppauge) got the Eagles on the board with an RBI single in the bottom half of the inning and Tierney drove her in with a base hit to cut the deficit to 5-2, but Mongiello drilled an RBI double for the second straight inning to extend the Rams lead.  Lindsey Corriss (Sayville, N.Y./St. Anthony's) drove home a run in the fourth inning to cut the lead back down to three.

After already plating one run in the sixth, Gianna Gulli (Mount Sinai, N.Y./Mount Sinai) hit a big homerun over the left field wall to trim the Farmingdale lead down to one. Two errors proved costly for the Rams in the bottom of the seventh as they put the tying and winning runs on base for the Eagles with one out.  Boccio stepped up to the plate and singled up the middle to bring home the tying run from second as Tierney stood on third as the potential winning run. Gabrielle Cinquemani (West Islip, N.Y./West Islip) drilled the ball up the middle to bring home Tierney and win it for the Eagles.

Boccio and Cinquemani were both 2-for-4 with an RBI as they produced the tying and winning runs.  Corriss and Gulli both finished 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored. Martinez gave up five runs over two innings and Mallory McClafferty (Bellport, N.Y./St. John the Baptist) kept the game in reach for the Eagles, surrendering just one run over five innings pitched and picking up the victory.

The Eagles take on Stevens Institute on the road this Tuesday night.