Lady Bears Championship Run Ends with Loss in Semis

AKRON, OH – The St. Joseph's College softball team carried a two run lead into the sixth inning against #2 seed St. Mary-of-the-Wood, but a seven run frame ended the Lady Bears bid for their first USCAA National Championship, falling 8-2 in the semifinals on Sunday evening at Firestone Stadium.

After going down in order through the first three innings, the Lady Bears drew first blood in the bottom of the fourth inning started by a leadoff walk by Millicia Malvasio (Brooklyn, NY/Bishop Kearney), who then stole second.  After the next two batters struck out, Alyson Chiaramonte (Staten Island, NY/Moore Catholic) knocked the Lady Bears first hit of the game to put runners at the corners with two outs, with Caitlyn Kakavas (Bayside, NY/St. Agnes) due up fresh off her game-winning RBI that advanced St. Joseph's to the semifinals.   Like the previous game, Chiaramonte stole second to advance into scoring position and Kakavas delivered again with a double to left field that scored Malvasio and Chiaramonte.

In the circle, Chiaramonte and the Lady Bears defense held St. Mary-of-the-Woods scoreless through five innings scattering three hits, limiting the Pomeroys from advancing past second base.

In the top of the sixth inning, St. Mary-of-the-Woods broke the game open with a seven run frame scoring five runs before the Lady Bears could record their first out.  Libby Wright hit a two-run triple to tie the game and Chelsea Baker knocked the go-ahead for SMWC.  The Pomeroys had seven hits in the inning before St. Joseph's stopped the bleeding with a 1-2-3 double play with the bases loaded to end the frame. 

St. Joseph's managed three hits over the final two innings, but was unable to bring any runners across the plate.  St. Mary-of-the-Woods tacked on a run in the top of the seventh on a two-out double after a Lady Bears miscue.

Chiaramonte takes the loss allowing eight runs (six earned) on 11 hits, striking out six and walking three.  Jennie Faker gets the win for the Pomeroys allowing two runs on five hits, striking out five and walking one.

St. Joseph's will face local rival #4 Briarcliffe College in the third place game on Monday, May 10 at noon.  Guaranteed at least a fourth place finish, this will be the highest finish in four appearances in the National Tournament.