Lady Bears Softball Hosts Valley Forge and USCAA Foe Maine-Presque Isle This Weekend

BROOKLYN, N.Y. – After opening their season with a six-game trip in Arizona, the St. Joseph's College (Brooklyn) softball team will begin an eight-game home-stand this weekend, meeting The University of Valley Forge for a doubleheader (2 p.m. and 4 p.m.) on Saturday and The University of Maine at Presque Isle for a doubleheader (1 p.m. and 3 p.m.) on Sunday.

Game Information

Saturday, March 28

Opponent: The University of Valley Forge (0-0)
Time: 2 p.m. and 4 p.m.
Location: Padavan-Preller Field | Bellerose, N.Y.

Sunday, March 29

Opponent: The University of Maine at Presque Isle (1-3)
Time: 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.
Location: Padavan-Preller Field | Bellerose, N.Y.

Team Links

St. Joseph's: Roster | Schedule | Statistics
The University of Valley Forge: Roster | Schedule | Statistics
The University of Maine at Presque Isle: Roster | Schedule | Statistics

Quick Hits

• The Lady Bears (0-6) opened their 2015 campaign with the Tucson Invitational Games from March 19-21, dropping all six of their contests in Arizona against stiff competition.
• Following their trip, St. Joseph's will play eight consecutive home games at Padavan-Preller Field. The Lady Bears compiled a 7-4 record at home last season.
• The 2014 softball squad struggled out of the gate as well, dropping their first eight contests to open the season. But the Lady Bears proceeded to win 17 of their next 25 to finish 17-16, claiming the Hudson Valley Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (HVIAC) regular season and tournament titles along the way.
• After leading the team with a .400 (4-for-10) batting average in the Tucson Invitational Games, freshman Destiny Marino was named the Association of Division III Independents (AD3I) Softball Player of the Week and the HVIAC Rookie of the Week on March 24.
• Valley Forge will be making their season-debut against St. Joseph's on Saturday. The next day, the Lady Bears will host a pivotal meeting against United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA)-foe Maine at Presque Isle, who'll be seeking to build on their 1-3 start.

Series History

vs. Valley Forge: St. Joseph's holds a 2-0 record in the brief series history, claiming a doubleheader sweep in their debut meeting on April, 26 2014.

vs. Maine at Presque Isle: Maine came out on top against the Lady Bears in their only meeting in history on April 26, 2008.

Last Meeting

vs. Valley Forge: St. Joseph's claimed a doubleheader sweep at Valley Forge on April 26, 2014 in Phoenixville, Pa. led by an offense that produced 22 runs and connected for 25 hits. The Lady Bears earned an 11-2 five-inning triumph in game one and followed that up with another 11-2 victory in the six-inning nightcap.

Jackie Perillo (Howard Beach, N.Y./Archbishop Molloy) went the distance in game one, surrendering no earned runs and striking out six. Jamilynn McGowan (Staten Island, N.Y./Michael J. Petrides) followed that up with her own complete game to finish off the sweep, allowing just two earned runs and five hits over six strong innings.

vs. Maine at Presque Isle: On April 26, 2008, Maine put away the Lady Bears 10-3 in a late-season clash. St. Joseph's matched the Owls in hits (9) but hurt their cause with five errors. Maine exploded for a six-run sixth inning to put the contest out of reach.

The Lady Bear Facts

The Lady Bears (0-6) opened their 2015 campaign with the Tucson Invitational Games from March 19-21, dropping all six of their contests in Arizona against stiff competition. Following their trip, St. Joseph's will play eight consecutive home games at Padavan-Preller Field. The Lady Bears compiled a 7-4 record at home last season.

The 2014 softball squad struggled out of the gate as well, dropping their first eight contests to open the season. But the Lady Bears proceeded to win 17 of their next 25 to finish 17-16, claiming the HVIAC regular season and tournament titles along the way.

Marino Collects Weekly Awards

Freshman Destiny Marino was named the AD3I Player of the Week and the HVIAC Rookie of the Week on March 24.

Opening the season against a tough slate of opponents in Arizona, including a Division II team and a Division III ranked team, Marino batted a team-best .400 (4-for-10) with a double. The Middle Village, N.Y. freshman collected a hit in four-of-five games played, assembling a team-long four-game hitting streak.

Patriot Games

Valley Forge, out of Phoenixville, Pa., competes in the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA). Saturday's meeting with the Lady Bears will be the Patriots' season debut. The team was originally slated to open their 2015 campaign on Friday against Yeshiva University, but the scheduled doubleheader was postponed. Following a disappointing 2-28 finish last season, the Patriots will be looking to build positive momentum in their 2015 opener.

Owl Wisdom

Maine at Presque Isle is a member of the United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA) alongside St. Joseph's. The Owls are off to a modest 1-3 start following six weather cancellations, suffering a doubleheader sweep at the hands of Methodist University and splitting a doubleheader matchup against The University of Maine at Farmington.

Freshman Carly Bell has led the way offensively in the Owls' young season,  batting .364 (4-for-11) in four games. Fellow freshman Sara Packard is Maine's primary pitching option. Packard has started all four of the Owls' contests, compiling a 1-2 record and a 6.61 ERA.

Maine at Presque Isle Last Time Out

The Owls split a doubleheader against The University of Maine at Farmington on March 14, opening the day with a 6-1 five-inning defeat and then bouncing back with an 8-3 triumph to even the score.

Maine mustered just one hit in game one. Starter Sara Packard picked up the loss, surrendering three earned runs over four innings. But the Owls' offense came to life in the capper, plating seven runs in the first two innings to seize control. Packard picked up the victory in tossing her second complete game of the day, allowing two earned runs and six hits over six solid innings.

Next Up for the Lady Bears 

St. Joseph's will continue their home-stand with a doubleheader meeting against York (N.Y.) on Thursday, April 2 at 3:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. Live stats will be available at SJCBears.com.