Blue Jays Fall to Spalding, Cruise to Win Against SUNY Canton on Day Four in Myrtle Beach

NORTH MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. – The University of Saint Joseph (USJ) softball team split its doubleheader on day four of the Fastpitch Dreams Spring Classic in North Myrtle Beach, S.C., on Tuesday, falling to the Spalding University (Spalding) Golden Eagles, before defeating the SUNY Canton (Canton) Kangaroos to end the day. After a tough 6-5 walk-off loss to Spalding, the Blue Jays pummeled Canton, 16-1, in five innings.
 
GAME ONE
Score: USJ 5, Spalding 6
Records: USJ (1-4), Spalding (7-0)
Location: North Myrtle Beach Sports Complex - Field 5 | North Myrtle Beach, S.C.

HOW IT HAPPENED

USJ threatened immediately, getting runners on the corners, but Spalding denied the Blue Jays an early lead, jumping out to it themselves, taking a 2-0 edge after the first inning. However, USJ would respond in the top half of the third. Senior outfielder Jenna Masiello (Cromwell, Conn.) led off the inning with a walk, advancing to second with two outs. Classmate Liliana Stoddard (Waterford, Conn.) drew her own walk, putting runners on first and second, allowing freshman outfielder Madelyn Ellis (Newington, Conn.) to rip a single into the outfield, plating Masiello and cutting the gap to 2-1. Stoddard would later come home to score, taking advantage of a Golden Eagles wild pitch, tying the game at 2-2 through three innings.

Freshman pitcher Kaitlyn Ouellette (Wolcott, Conn.) set down the Spalding die in order in the third, but the Golden Eagles would tack on a run in the fourth, establishing a 3-2 lead. USJ did not let the lead last long though, as Ouellette shined at the plate, hitting a single into the outfield, bringing home classmate McKenzie Fairfax (Waterbury, Conn.) to tie the game. Ouellette continued a stellar game on the mound, setting down the side in order in the fifth, before working out a jam in the sixth, preserving the USJ lead.

The Blue Jays added insurance runs in the top of the seventh, as Stoddard began the inning with a single. Ellis notched her third hit of the game to put runners on first and second in the next at-bat. After the runners advanced to second and third, sophomore Elaina Previty (Pawcatuck, Conn.) came up clutch, notching a single to bring home freshman Jordyn Fitch (Andover, Conn.) who entered the game to pinch run for Stoddard. Ouellette continued the run parade, hitting a ball deep enough into center field to plate Ellis and increase the lead to 5-3. However, the Golden Eagles secured two runners on base to start the bottom of the frame, before a walk-off three-run homerun secured the victory for Spalding, 6-5.

IN THE CIRCLE

USJ – Ouellette received a no-decision, allowing five runs off seven hits, striking out two batters in 6.0 innings of work. Sophomore Alyssa Roberts (Naugatuck, Conn.) entered the game in relief of Ouellette, but allowed the walk-off homerun to pick up the loss (1-2).

SPALDING– Freshman Michaela Ferman (Metamora, Ind.) saw the start inside the circle, receiving a no-decision. Ferman allowed three runs from eight hits, walking six batters and striking out two in 5.0 innings of work. Senior Erica McMann (Bloomington, Ill.) pitched two innings of relief, picking up the win (3-0) after allowing two runs off three hits in 2.0 innings of relief.

GAME TWO
Score: USJ 16, Canton 1 – 5 innings
Records: USJ (2-4), Canton (1-4)
Location: North Myrtle Beach Sports Complex - Field 5 | North Myrtle Beach, S.C.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Canton would strike first in the top of the first, but USJ exploded offensively in the bottom half of the frame, combining for five runs. Junior outfielder Isabel Milardo (Middlefield, Conn.) began the inning with a walk, before Masiello and sophomore shortstop Jenna Zup (Berlin, Conn.) tallied back-to-back singles, loading the bases. Ellis continued her red-hot day at the plate, slashing a single up the middle, plating Milardo and Masiello to give USJ a 2-1 lead.

Freshman Alexis Volinsky (Berwick, Maine) followed it up with a sacrifice fly, increasing the lead to 3-1. The Blue Jays rounded out the run parade as Ellis scored following a Kangaroos throwing error and freshman pitcher Paige Fekete (Watertown, Conn.) tallied a single to score sophomore Emily Beyer (Prospect, Conn.) to give USJ a 5-1 lead after the first inning.

Fekete set down the side in order to start the second, allowing USJ to tack on three more runs in the bottom half. After two quick outs, Zup tripled to center field, allowing Ellis to double down the right field line, increasing the lead to 6-1. Then, with two runners on base, Fairfax launched a single to left, plating Ellis and Volinsky, increasing the gap to 8-1. Canton threatened in the third, getting runners on second and third, but Fekete tallied a timely strikeout, before getting a flyout to end the inning, preserving a 8-1 edge heading into the fourth inning.

USJ put the game to rest in the fourth, erupting for eight runs. Senior catcher Kelsie LaHouse (Coventry, Conn.) started with a single up the middle, before Volinsky and Fairfax loaded the bases in the next two at-bats. Beyer would bring LaHouse home with a single to the second baseman, before junior Adriana Quealy (East Hartford, Conn.) plated Volinsky and junior Grace Diminno (Plainville, Conn.) brought home Fairfax, increasing the lead to 10, 11-1.

Freshman Tessa D'Aquila continued the run parade, singling to left in the next at-bat to score Beyer and increase the lead to 12-1. Four more runs crossed the plate in the follow four at-bats, as Quealy reached home on an error, and DiMinno, D'Aquila and Previty scored walks, increasing the gap to 16-1. The lead would be more than enough for the Blue Jays to maintain as Fekete tossed two strikeouts, ending the game by setting the Kangaroos down in order, preserving a dominating 16-1 victory for USJ.

IN THE CIRCLE

USJ – Fekete picked up the complete game win (1-1), allowing one run off three hits, tossing nine strikeouts in 5.0 innings of work.

CANTON – Abigail Sawyer earned the start in the circle for Canton, allowing eight runs off six hits, walking four batters in 1-0 innings of work. Caitlyn Reed picked up the loss (0-3) allowing eight runs, six of which were earned, from nine hits in 3.0 innings of relief.

UP NEXT
The Blue Jays remain in North Myrtle Beach for the penultimate day of the Fastpitch Dreams Spring Classic tomorrow, March 15. USJ will play another doubleheader, first facing off against Skidmore College at 11:00 a.m., followed by a meeting with Wilson College at 5:00 p.m.

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