Career Days From Rossi and Simon Lead Softball to Sweep of York

BELLEROSE, N.Y. – Freshmen Samantha Rossi (Bayside, N.Y./Mary Louis) and Samantha Simon (Brooklyn, N.Y./Bishop Kearney) combined for eight hits, eight RBI and six runs on the day to help lead the St. Joseph's College (Brooklyn) softball team to a doubleheader sweep of York College, defeating the Cardinals 11-0 in the opener and 12-9 in the nightcap on Wednesday afternoon at Padavan-Preller Field.

St. Joseph's (6-10) ties a season high with their current three-game winning streak and have won six of the last eight, while York (5-15) has now dropped five in a row.

After a scoreless first inning in the opener, the Lady Bears went to town on Cardinal pitching scoring multiple runs in each of the next four innings to force York into a run-rule defeat. St. Joseph's was able to accomplish that feat in large part to a strong start in the circle by junior Jackie Perillo (Howard Beach, N.Y./Archbishop Molloy) who went the distance once again, scattering three hits over the five-inning affair to pick up her second win in a row and improve to 3-5.

Sloppy defense was an issue for the Cardinals in both games, but especially the opener as they committed seven errors that led to seven unearned runs.  The Lady Bears built a 5-0 lead after three innings, led by a Briana Robles (Brooklyn, N.Y./Bishop Kearney) two-RBI base knock up the middle in the second and an error in the third that plated three.

Rossi put the game away in the top of the fourth with a three-run jack to left field, the first of her career, to put St. Joseph's up 8-0 and they would cruise the rest of the way as Perillo dominated Cardinals hitters.

The nightcap saw York take a 2-1 lead after one inning, but the Lady Bears who were coming off a ten-run inning their last time out versus John Jay would put together a seven-run inning in the top of the second to take the lead for good at 8-2.  St. Joseph's used doubles off the bats of Simon, Rossi and freshman Kristin Ferrigno (Brooklyn, N.Y./Bishop Kearney) to plate four of the runs, while junior Shannon Rom (Breezy Point, N.Y./Bishop Kearney), Robles and freshman Jamilynn McGowan (Staten Island, N.Y./Michael J. Petrides) contributed singles that resulted in the other three runs in the frame.

The Cardinals came back and put up three runs in their half of the second to make it 8-5, but the Lady Bears put up a pair of two spots on the board in the fourth and fifth innings to take a comfortable 12-5 lead and held off a fifth-inning rally by York to secure the win as the game was called due to darkness.

McGowan made the start in game two and went four innings, surrendering five runs (three earned) on seven hits and struck out three to improve to 3-5 on the season.

Both Simon and Rossi ended with career days at the plate with Simon going 5-for-7 with four runs scored and three RBI. Rossi wasn't far behind hitting 3-for-7 with five RBI (four in game one) and two runs. Robles finished the day 3-for-6 scoring three runs and driving in three runs, while Ferrigno concluded with a 3-for-7 day at the plate with three runs and an RBI.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORES

• Other Contributors: Rom (2-for-4, 3 R, RBI) Perillo (2-for-6, 2 R) Cassandra Molinari (2-for-7, R, RBI) McGowan (Gm. 2: 2-for-2, R, RBI)
• The Lady Bears hit well on the day, recording 10 hits in the opener and 15 in the nightcap, while holding the Cardinals to 11 in game two.
• St. Joseph's left four runners on base in the opener and seven in the nightcap, while York stranded five in the first game and eight in the second game.
• Lady Bears had four stolen bases on the day and the Cardinals had three.

THE LADY BEAR FACTS

• St. Joseph's improves to 18-0 all-time against the Cardinals.
• Simon extends her hitting streak to nine games as does Molinari.
• The Lady Bears have now scored double-digit runs in each of their last three games.
• The four RBIs for Rossi in the opener was a career high and both the three hits and three RBI in the nightcap for Simon were career highs. 
• The home run by Rossi was the first by a Lady Bear this season.

NEXT UP FOR THE LADY BEARS – JOHN JAY

St. Joseph's has a quick turnaround as they host John Jay College in a doubleheader tomorrow at Preller with a 2 p.m. first pitch.