Softball Captures HVIAC Regular Season Title With Triumph Over Yeshiva

BRONXVILLE, N.Y. – Freshman Jamilynn McGowan (Staten Island, N.Y./Michael J. Petrides) tossed a complete game three-hit shutout and went 2-for-2 with three RBI and a run scored as the St. Joseph's College (Brooklyn) softball team secured their sixth consecutive Hudson Valley Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (HVIAC) regular season title with a 13-0 triumph over Yeshiva University in five innings on Tuesday afternoon at Mary LeVine Field on the campus of Sarah Lawrence College.

St. Joseph's (16-15, 3-0 HVIAC) extends their winning streak to seven games and moves over .500 for the first time this season, while Yeshiva (6-8, 2-1 HVIAC) ends their first varsity season with back-to-back losses to the Lady Bears in a span of three days.

After St. Joseph's defeated the Maccabees on Sunday for the HVIAC Tournament title, the two teams met this time with the regular season title up for grabs.

Junior Jackie Perillo (Howard Beach, N.Y./Archbishop Molloy) made the start against Yeshiva on Sunday, but this time around McGowan got the start for the Lady Bears in the circle and held Yeshiva hitless until the fourth inning. The freshman got all the run support she would need as St. Joseph's scored six runs on five hits in the first inning with McGowan helping her cause at the dish with a two-RBI single to right center that put the Lady Bears up 6-0. Also providing support in the inning was freshman Samantha Rossi (Bayside, N.Y./Mary Louis) who singled in a run to lead off the scoring and sophomore Morgan Summers (Bellerose, N.Y./St. Mary's) who drove in a pair with a single to center.

St. Joseph's put the game out of reach with another six-run inning in the second as junior Shannon Rom (Breezy Point, N.Y./Bishop Kearney) came through with a two-RBI single, McGowan plated another run with a single to right and freshman Samantha Simon (Brooklyn, N.Y./Bishop Kearney) drove home a pair with single through the left side to put the Lady Bears up 12-0.

McGowan wins her fourth consecutive start and is now 8-8 on the year after finishing with four strikeouts on the day.

Rom continued her strong play by going 1-for-3 with three RBI and a runs scored, while Summers ended the contest 2-for-4 with a pair of runs scored and RBI. Simon concluded the day 1-for-3 driving in two runs and scoring another. Junior Cassandra Molinari (Brooklyn, N.Y./St. Edmund Prep) went 3-for-4 coming across to score twice and Rossi batted 2-for-3 with two runs scored and an RBI.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Other Contributors: Geena Campisi (1-for-1, R, RBI) Kristin Ferrigno (1-for-2, 2 R)
• All 16 hits in the game were singles with the Lady Bears accumulating 13 hits on the afternoon.
• Yeshiva committed two errors, while St. Joseph's made one miscue.
• McGowan was efficient needing only 52 pitches to complete the game.
• The Lady Bears were also helped by seven free passes issued by Maccabees starter Rena Genauer, while McGowan only surrendered one walk.
• All nine Lady Bears scored a run, eight had a hit and seven drove in at least one run.

THE LADY BEAR FACTS

• St. Joseph's is now 3-0 all-time against Yeshiva.
• The Lady Bears have now won 42 straight regular season and tournament contests against conference opponents.
• St. Joseph's surpasses their win total of 15 from a year ago.
• Lady Bears pitchers have now tossed eight shutouts on the year with McGowan accounting for three by herself and was a part of a fourth.

NEXT UP FOR THE LADY BEARS – BRIARCLIFFE COLLEGE

St. Joseph's concludes their 2014 season with a home doubleheader against USCAA rival Briarcliffe College tomorrow at 4 p.m.