Softball Fires Pair of No-Hitters in Sweep of HVIAC Foe New Rochelle

NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. – A pitching exhibition was on display Monday night at Flowers Park as the St. Joseph's College (Brooklyn) softball team fired a pair of no-hitters in their doubleheader sweep of Hudson Valley Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (HVIAC) opponent The College of New Rochelle, defeating the Blue Angels 12-0 in the opener and 14-0 in the nightcap.

St. Joseph's (9-13) snaps a three-game losing streak and has now won all 28 matchups in the all-time series, while New Rochelle (0-22) remains winless on the season.

Freshmen Jamilynn McGowan (Staten Island, N.Y./Michael J. Petrides) and Kristen Candelaria (Jamaica, N.Y./Archbishop Molloy) teamed up in the opener to hold New Rochelle hitless with a walk in the fourth accounting for the lone baserunner of the game for the Blue Angels. Juniors Jackie Perillo (Howard Beach, N.Y./Archbishop Molloy) and Cassandra Molinari (Brooklyn, N.Y./St. Edmund Prep) combined to no-hit New Rochelle in the second game, allowing only four walks.

It didn't take long for the Lady Bears to find their groove in the opener as they plated four runs in the first inning, using two errors by the Blue Angels and a two-RBI double off the bat of senior Christina Quintana (Brooklyn, N.Y./St. Edmund Prep) to take a 4-0 lead.

St. Joseph's showcased their power in the second inning as Perillo led off with a jack to left field and two batters later freshman Samantha Simon (Brooklyn, N.Y./Bishop Kearney) added her first career homer with a two-run shot that scored junior Shannon Rom (Breezy Point, N.Y./Bishop Kearney) who had singled. Quintana came through with another double this time scoring sophomore Maria Randazzo (Brooklyn, N.Y./Fontbonne Hall) to give the Lady Bears a comfortable 8-0 edge.

That is all the run support McGowan would need as the freshman was efficient throwing only 40 pitches in four innings and had a perfect game going until she walked Tiany Perez-Diaz in the fourth. The ensuing batter flied out and McGowan's day was done, giving way to Candelaria who proceeded to retire the side in order in the fifth to secure the no-no. McGowan earned her fourth win of the season in the circle and finished with six punchouts, while Candelaria struck out two in her inning of work.

The nightcap saw Perillo, who is no stranger to no-hitters, take the ball and continue St. Joseph's domination of Blue Angel hitters as she didn't allow a hit in her four innings of work. The junior, who has been a part of two previous no-hitters, struck out seven on the day and handed the ball off to Molinari who pitched a hitless fifth to secure the back-to-back no-hitters.

The Lady Bears would give Perillo more than enough run support with four runs in the first and six in the second to take a 10-0 lead. The opening frame saw Molinari get St. Joseph's on the board with an RBI double to center before freshman Kristin Ferrigno (Brooklyn, N.Y./Bishop Kearney) followed with a sacrifice fly and Rom doubled in a run. McGowan capped off the four-run first with a triple to right field that scored Rom.

The second inning saw the Lady Bears bat around, finishing with seven hits and they received an RBI double from Molinari and RBI singles from Ferrigno, junior Briana Robles (Brooklyn, N.Y./Bishop Kearney), sophomore Morgan Summers (Bellerose, N.Y./St. Mary's) and freshman Geena Campisi (Howard Beach, N.Y./Archbishop Molloy) to take the double-digit lead and seal the sweep.

Perillo ended the day 4-for-5 with five runs scored and an RBI on her first homer of the year, while Molinari concluded the evening 5-for-6 with four runs and five RBI. Quintana contributed a 3-for-4 day with three RBI and Robles tallied four hits in six at bats with two runs and two RBI. Freshman Samantha Rossi (Bayside, N.Y./Mary Louis) finished 3-for-3 with three runs scored and an RBI, playing in only the nightcap, and McGowan added a 3-for-5 day with an RBI.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Other Contributors: Rom (3-for-3, 4 R, RBI) Randazzo (3-for-4, R, RBI) Summers (3-for-5, 2 R, RBI) Campisi (3-for-4, R, RBI)
• The Lady Bears smacked 41 hits on the day, finishing with 17 in the opener and 24 in the nightcap.
• All 13 Lady Bears who made an appearance had a hit.
• Simon and Molinari each stole a base in game one.

THE LADY BEAR FACTS

• It is the first time in school history that St. Joseph's has no-hit an opponent in both ends of a doubleheader.
• The no-hitters are the 18th and 19th in school history with this being the fifth and sixth time the Lady Bears have no-hit the Blue Angels.
• Perillo tossed a no-hitter against New Rochelle on April 4th of last year and was a part of the last no-hitter by St. Joseph's going four innings against Sarah Lawrence on April 28, 2013.
• The 24 hits in the nightcap are a season-high.
• The home run for Perillo was the fifth of her career.
• The pitching appearance by Molinari was her first since starting at Sarah Lawrence on April 25, 2013.

NEXT UP FOR THE LADY BEARS – BROOKLYN COLLEGE

St. Joseph's tries to build off the sweep as they host borough rivals Brooklyn College on Thursday, April 24th at 4 p.m.