Softball Sweeps Sarah Lawrence in Conference Doubleheader

Written by Andrew Capitelli (SJC-LI Sports Information)

Patchogue, NY| The St. Joseph's College (L.I.) softball team took both games of a Skyline Conference doubleheader vs. Sarah Lawrence College, 8-2 and 13-8, at home on Tuesday evening. With the wins, the Golden Eagles improve to 12-6 (4-2 Skyline) on the year while the Gryphons fall to 6-11.

Game 1: SJC 8, SLC 2

After falling behind 2-0 in the top of the first, the Golden Eagles rallied with two runs of their own in the bottom of the first to knot the game up at two. After Jillian McFadzen grounded out to short and scored Lindsey Corriss, Mallory McClafferty's double up the middle sent Gabrielle Cinquemani home. For McClafferty, it was her 16th RBI of the season.

Starting pitcher Lauren Buturla struck out two of three batters and held the Gryphons scoreless in the top of the second which enabled SJC to take a 4-2 lead in the bottom half of the inning. Elizabeth Rohme would advance home on an error by the right fielder immediately before McFadzen's single scored Corriss.

Two more runs in the bottom of the third—RBI's courtesy of Megan Leun and Nicole Pitta—extended the Golden Eagles lead to four runs (6-2) , and a sac fly from Rohme made it a five-run game (7-2) in the bottom of the fifth. Katelyn DeVinney would score in the bottom of the sixth to wrap the scoring as SJC cruised to an 8-2 victory.

Buturla improved to 4-2 on the season after striking out a career-best 10 batters. SLC's Kamaron McNair (4-5) took the loss for the Gryphons.

Corriss and Cinquemani went a perfect 3-3 in the game with two runs apiece. McFadzen (1-4) and McClafferty (1-2) both recorded two RBI's.

Game 2: SJC 13, SLC 8                                                                                                        

SLC struck in the top of the first again, but the Golden Eagles responded immediately in the bottom half of the inning with three runs of their own. McClafferty, Kristen Arbiter and McFadzen collected the RBI's as SJC built a 3-1 lead.

With no answer from the Gryphons in the top of the second, the Golden Eagles exploded for five runs in the bottom of the second beginning with an Arbiter triple to right that scored Corriss. Cinquemani's fifth home run (tied for first in the conference) scored Arbiter before McClafferty advanced home on an error, and Rohme scored Leun with a double to right.

A four-run third cut the SLC deficit to three runs (8-5) but the Golden Eagles got two back in the bottom of the third (Arbiter scored on an error, McClafferty recorded an RBI double). SLC's Olivia Henry singled to short and scored Taryn Penna in the top of the fourth (10-6) but a three-run bottom of the fifth reestablished SJC's seven-run edge (13-6).

The Gryphons rallied for a pair of runs in the top of the seventh, but in the end it was the Golden Eagles who earned the 13-8 victory.

McClafferty started on the mound for SJC (5K's, 3 hits) and pitched 3.0 innings, but Ashley Blydenburgh (1-0) earned her first win of the season after entering in the fourth inning.

Corriss went 4-5 in the game (7-8 on the evening), as did Arbiter (2 RBI's, 4 runs). Cinquemani, McClafferty and Leun all collected two RBI's in the contest.

The Golden Eagles return to action on Saturday, March 9 when they host Sage in a Skyline Conference doubleheader at 1:00 PM. Live stats will be available here.