MSMC Sweeps Softball in Sunday Doubleheader

Written by Andrew Capitelli (SJC-LI Sports Information)

Newburgh, NY| The St. Joseph's College (L.I.) softball team suffered a pair of defeats to Skyline Conference rival Mount St. Mary College on Saturday afternoon, dropping contests 4-2 and 4-3 on the road. With the losses the Golden Eagles fall to 8-4 (2-2 Skyline) on the season as the Knights improve to 4-1 (4-0 Skyline).

Game 1: MSMC 4, SJC 2

The Knights would pull ahead 2-0 in the bottom of the first inning after Chelsea Dexter and Cindy Connoly recorded an RBI-single and an RBI-double, respectively, in consecutive at-bats.

After three scoreless innings, senior Megan Leun put the Golden Eagles on the board (2-1) with a solo homer to left field. MSMC had no answer in the bottom of the fifth, enabling junior Gabrielle Cinquemani to tie the game in the top of the sixth (2-2) with her fourth home run in the last three games.

In the bottom of the sixth, Dexter popped out and Connoly struck out swinging, but with the fourth at-bat MSMC's Taylor Canto used a two-run homer to give the Knights a two-run advantage (4-2). For senior Mallory McClafferty, who got the start for the Golden Eagles, it was the first home run she's allowed this season.

After freshman Nicole Baron struck out and senior Lindsey Corriss singled, consecutive outs by freshman Jillian McFadzen and sophomore Kristen Arbiter sealed the 4-2 victory for the hosts.

McClafferty struck out six batters and was handed her first defeat of the season one day after pitching a no-hitter against St. Joseph's (Brkln). The Bellport, NY native is now 4-1 on the year.

Corriss was a team-best 3-4, and Leun and freshman Elizabeth Rohme each went 2-3.

Game 2: MSMC 4, SJC 3

SJC allowed the opening run in the first inning again, but McClafferty's solo home run in the top of the second knotted the score up at one. After scoreless third and fourth innings, the Golden Eagles opened up a two-run lead (3-1) following RBI-singles from Arbiter and McClafferty in the top of the fifth.

MSMC cut the deficit in half in the bottom of the fifth when Connoly homered to right field, but SJC had no response in the sixth and seventh innings, allowing for the Knights to earn the 4-3 victory in walk-off fashion courtesy of a Breanna DePasquale's RBI-single.  

Sophomore Lauren Buturla (2-2) allowed one earned run, struck out one batter took the loss for SJC.  

Arbiter (2-4, 1 RBI) and McClafferty (2-3, 2 RBI's, 1 run) highlighted the St. Joseph's offense.

The Golden Eagles return to action on Thursday, March 24 when they face Stockton on the road for a non-conference doubleheader at 3:00 and 5:00 PM. Live stats will be available here.