Lady Bears Drop Both Ends of Florida Opener to Drew and Medaille

CAPE CORAL, Fla. – The St. Joseph's College (Brooklyn) softball team dropped both ends of their season-opening doubleheader, falling 15-3 against Drew University in five innings and 7-2 against Medaille College on Thursday afternoon at the Cape Coral Complex.

In game one, the Lady Bears (0-2) struggled behind sophomore starter Jackie Perillo (Howard Beach, NY/Archbishop Molloy) making her first career start in the circle going 3 2/3 innings allowing only three hits while fanning two. The sophomore surrendered 12 walks and 12 runs with only six of them earned as the St. Joseph's defense behind her committed four errors.

Drew (5-4) jumped out to an early 3-0 lead in the first inning before St. Joseph's would even things up with three runs in the top of the third. The Rangers responded with four runs in the bottom half of the inning rebuilding their lead to 7-3 before following that up with eight runs in the fourth.

The Lady Bears were unable to get in a rhythm offensively as Rangers starter Casey Reggiani went the distance allowing three earned runs while surrendering five hits and striking out five.

Game two against Medaille (4-6) started as game one ended as the Mavericks put up five runs in the bottom of the first taking an early 5-0 lead. However, senior pitcher Mabel Vargas (Ridgewood, NY/Mary Louis) would settle down and go the next four innings allowing only two singles.

The Lady Bears got on the board in the fifth inning when they sent seven to the plate and had four of their seven hits during the rally where two runs scored bringing the score to 5-2 which it would remain at until the Mavericks tacked on two more runs in the bottom of the sixth putting the game out of reach.

The Lady Bears touched up Mavericks starter Megan Anderson for seven hits, but she threw a complete game and limited St. Joseph's to two earned runs with four punch outs.

Senior Danielle Marino (Maspeth, NY/Mary Louis) finished the twinbill batting 2-for-4 with two RBI while freshman Morgan Summers (Bellerose, NY/St. Mary's) went 2-for-3 with a double in the second game. Freshman left fielder Maria Randazzo (Brooklyn, NY/Fontbonne Hall) completed the day going 2-for-5 including a triple while scoring two runs and throwing out a runner at home in game two. 

TURNING POINT - GAME ONE

Drew scored three in the bottom of the first to take an early 3-0 lead before St. Joseph's put up a three spot in the 3rd inning to tie the score at 3-3. The Rangers in the bottom half of the inning would send up 10 batters to the plate and scored four runs without recording a hit as the Lady Bears committed three errors and surrendered five walks taking a 7-3 lead. Drew tacked on eight more runs in the bottom of the fourth putting the game out of reach.

TURNING POINT – GAME TWO

After the Lady Bears got a groundout from the leadoff hitter, the Mavericks would send seven batters to the plate with five of them scoring as Vargas gave up two extra-base hits and St. Joseph's committed two errors during the first inning. The 5-0 deficit proved too much to overcome for the Lady Bears as they would only be able to muster seven hits for the rest of the contest.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORES

• Marino has currently reached base in seven consecutive games and has a four game hitting streak dating back to last season. She also recorded her 50th career RBI in game two with a single in the 5th. Marino also made her first collegiate appearance in the circle in game one, going 1/3 of an inning (inheriting the bases loaded) and notching one strikeout.
• Millicia Malvasio has now reached base in five straight games dating back to last year.
• Laura Innocente went 2-for-2 in her first collegiate game with a run scored, highlighted by a triple in her first at bat.
• Vargas made her first start on the mound since May 2, 2010 and suffered her first loss after finishing that season 4-0.
• Only eight of the 22 runs allowed came earned as the Lady Bears committed eight errors on the afternoon.

NEXT UP FOR THE LADY BEARS

The Bears continue their season-opening Florida trip with matchups against Dallas (at 9 a.m.) and Wisconsin Lutheran (at 1 p.m.) tomorrow at the Gene Cusic Classic. Follow @SJCBears on Twitter for live updates and live video on www.SJCBears.com