Eagles Strike Lightning Twice In Sweep of Lehman

Patchogue, N.Y. – The St. Joseph's College softball team (10-6) swept the Lehman Lightning (0-7) with victories of 10-2 and 9-6.

In the first game, St. Joseph's jumped on the board early in the bottom of the first. Freshman centerfielder Lindsey Corriss (Sayville, N.Y. / St. Anthony's) led off with a walk. She stole second base in the next at-bat and advanced over to third on a single by shortstop Samantha Carcano (Centereach, N.Y. / Newfield). A fielder's choice by Nicole Reda (Saint James, N.Y. / Our Lady of Mercy) scored Corriss. A walk by pitcher Mallory McClafferty (Bellport, N.Y. / St. John the Baptist) loaded the bases for freshman right fielder Megan Leun (Hauppauge, N.Y. / Hauppague). Leun reached on a fielder's choice as Carcano was thrown out at home by the shortstop. A walk by left fielder Regina Rodgers (Center Moriches, N.Y. / Center Moriches), an error by the third baseman, and a single by catcher Tara Bernocco (Islip, N.Y. / Islip) each scored one more run for the Eagles.

In the second, St. Joseph's tacked on one more with a double by Reda which scored Carcano. The Lady Eagles added three more in the bottom of the fourth from a homer by Carcano. Also in the fourth, one run was plated on an error by the leftfielder and an RBI ground-out by Regina Rodgers. St. Joseph's sealed the win with two runs in the bottom of the sixth off a two-run single by pinch hitter Gina Moscatelli (Massapequa, N.Y. / Massapequa).

Carcano led the way for the ladies by going 3-for-4 with a solo homer, a stolen base, and two runs scored. Nicole Reda, Regina Roders, and Gina Moscatelli each drove in two runs. Cassie Martinez (Centereach, N.Y. / Middle Country) came in relief for starter Mallor McClafferty and pitched four scoreless innings, allowing three hits, while striking out seven.

It was a back-and-forth battle to start off the second game of the doubleheader. The Lightning scored one in the top of the first, but the Eagles answered right back with two in the bottom of the inning. Carcano again got on with a bunt single and advanced to third off a stolen base and an error by the second baseman.  She later scored on a passed ball that also allowed catcher Casey Thomas (Bellmore, N.Y. / Mepham) to advance to third after she reached base on a walk. Right fielder Megan Leun drove in Thomas with a single to center field.

St. Joseph's tacked on two more runs in the bottom of the second off an error by the Lehman third baseman to extend the lead to 4-1. The Lightning tied the game up at four in the top of the third; St. Joseph's answered back with one run in the bottom of the inning on a wild pitch by Lehman's Janet Oriz. Lehman put up two more in the top of the fourth to grab the 6-5 lead.

The Lady Eagles waited until the bottom of the sixth to strike next. With two outs, St. Joseph's put together an impressive rally. Megan Leun singled to right field to score Nicole Reda, who reached earlier on an error by the third baseman. Cassie Martinez doubled to left center scoring Leun and capturing the 7-6 lead. Mallory McClafferty followed up with an RBI double of her own, bringing home Martinez. Second base Vienna Costanzo (Patchogue, N.Y. / Patchogue-Medford) singled to right driving in McClafferty and giving some insurance to St. Joseph's for their 9-6 victory.

Next up for the Lady Eagles is a non-conference game against the Hawks of Hunter College (2-12) on April 2^nd, at 1:00 p.m. at Randall's Island.