Softball Splits on Saturday, Advances to Championship Sunday

Championship Central

Patchogue, NY| After dropping a 4-1 decision to top-seeded Mount Saint Mary College in game five of the 2018 Skyline Conference Softball Championship, the second-seeded St. Joseph's College (L.I.) softball team defeated fourth-seeded College of Mount Saint Vincent, 3-0, in game seven on Saturday to advance to the tournament final on Sunday morning.

The Golden Eagles again meet Mount Saint Mary in a must-win game eight. Should SJC lose, the Knights would win their third-straight conference title. A St. Joseph's victory would force a winner-take-all game nine which would take place immediately following game eight.

Despite out-hitting Mount Saint Mary 7-4 in game five, SJC allowed three runs in the bottom of the sixth and failed to respond in the seventh inning.

Sophomore Jillian McFadzen went 3-for-4 with an RBI while senior Theresa Cardello (10-4) allowed four earned runs and struck out four batters in only her fourth loss of the season.

In game seven--an elimination game--SJC turned to senior hurler Ashley Blydenburgh (10-3), who struck out three and allowed four hits in a complete-game effort.

Scoreless till the sixth, SJC opened the scoring when freshman Zoe Kelly (1-for-2) singled up the middle and scored senior Samantha Magerovich (1-for-2).

Kelly would score later in the inning on an error by the Mount Saint Vincent second baseman (2-0), and junior Lyndsay Smocer (1-for-3) capped off the scoring with an RBI single up the middle that sent senior Kristen Arbiter (0-for-3) home (3-0).

Sunday's game eight will begin at 10:00 am at SJC's Outdoor Field Complex. Mount Saint Mary leads the season series 2-1. The sides split a regular-season doubleheader on April 24 before the Knights' 4-1 victory on Saturday.

The tournament winner will be crowned Skyline Conference champion and will earn an automatic bid to the 2018 NCAA Division III Softball Championship.