Lady Bears Softball Almost Earns Split, But Drops Two to Baruch

BELLEROSE, N.Y. – The St. Joseph's (Brooklyn) softball team dropped a hard-fought doubleheader to Baruch College, 7-0 and 9-6, on Friday afternoon at Padavan-Preller Field.

It was the first meeting between St. Joseph's (12-13-1) and Baruch (18-14) since 2007, when the two teams split a doubleheader.

Sophomore Cassandra Molinari (Brooklyn, NY/St. Edmund Prep) went 3-for-4 with three RBI in game two, putting the Lady Bears in a position to earn a split before a Bearcat rally ultimately turned the tables.

Senior Mabel Vargas (Ridgewood, NY/Mary Louis), the game one starter in the circle, managed to accrue two of the three Lady Bear hits finishing 2-for-4 in the opener. Baruch right-hander Nicole Flint was the difference in the 7-0 victory, tossing a complete game shutout with 13 strikeouts silencing the Lady Bears bats.

In the nightcap, Jackie Perillo (Howard Beach, NY/Archbishop Molloy) got the start for the Lady Bears and was effective allowing only one run through the first three innings. The St. Joseph's offense showed signs of life led by Molinari who drove in three runs in the game and gave the Lady Bears a 6-4 lead heading into the fifth inning.  The lead proved to be short lived as the Bearcats managed to rally with five runs in the sixth and Flint tossed 3 2/3 scoreless innings to close the game for the win.

Turning Points – Game 1

The Bearcats jumped out to an early lead scoring in the top of the first and that was all Nicole Flint would need as she kept the Lady Bear bats in check, holding them to three hits in leading her team to the 7-0 victory.

St. Joseph's attempted a rally in the bottom of the sixth placing runners at first and second with out one started by a Millicia Malvasio (Brooklyn, NY/Bishop Kearney) double, but Flint managed to get two consecutive popups to shut down the rally.

Turning Points – Game 2

After the Bearcats opened the scoring with a solo run in the first, three consecutive two-out RBI singles from the Molinari, Danielle Marino (Maspeth, NY/Mary Louis) and Vargas gave the Lady Bears a 3-1 advantage.

Baruch regained the lead 4-3 in their next at bat knocking two hits and taking advantage of a St. Joseph's error. The Lady Bears countered again with another three spot in the home half of the inning, as right fielder Andrea Sideli (Brooklyn, NY/Bishop Kearney) doubled and later scored on an opposite field RBI single from Morgan Summers (Bellerose, NY/St. Mary's).  Molinari capped the inning with a two-run double giving the Lady Bears a 6-4 lead.

After a scoreless fifth, the Bearcats offense exploded with a triple, two doubles, and a single all equating to five runs, providing them the 9-6 advantage which they would not relinquish.

Inside the Box Score

• Vargas was the only Lady Bear who had success against Flint, finishing 2-for-4 in the opener. Vargas also took the loss in the circle, allowing seven runs (five earned) while striking out two.
• Malvasio was the only Lady Bear to tally a hit in both contests, also crossing the plate twice in game two.
• Flint tossed 10 2/3 scoreless innings for the Bearcats, striking out 16 and improving to 14-6 on the season. She also finished with a three-hit day at the plate, with three RBI. 

News and Notes

• Baruch levels the all-time series at 5-5 in a rivalry that lay dormant for six years.
• With the three-RBI day, Molinari is now tied with Marino for the team lead.
• Marino had her hitting streak snapped at a team season-best seven games in the opener. Malvasio now owns the longest hitting streak at five games, 
• Vargas extended her reached base safely streak to 14 games.

Next Up for the Lady Bears – Sarah Lawrence

The Lady Bears face Sarah Lawrence for the second time this week, Sunday April 28th in a home twinbill at Padavan-Preller Field starting at 1 p.m.