Softball Uses Late Heroics to Salvage Split Against Mount Saint Vincent

BELLEROSE, N.Y. – The St. Joseph's College (Brooklyn) softball team (9-11) salvaged a doubleheader split hosting The College of Mount Saint Vincent (10-17) on Tuesday, suffering a 9-0 shutout in the opener before claiming a 1-0 pitcher's duel to enact revenge and snap a five-game skid.

Game one remained scoreless for the first three innings as starters Jamilynn McGowan (Staten Island, N.Y./Michael J. Petrides) and Mackenzie Heizer kept the offenses tamed.

But Mount Saint Vincent erupted for five runs in the top of fourth, pounding six hits, including three doubles, in the frame. Junior Joann Guerra and senior Kathleen Davis highlighted the rally with back-to-back two-RBI doubles.

Following a 1-2-3 bottom of the fourth, the Dolphins tacked on four insurance runs in the top of the fifth inning to break the game open.

Heizer struck out the side in the bottom half of the fifth to put the finishing touches on a ten-strikeout, two-hit shutout.

Sophomore Kristin Ferrigno (Brooklyn, N.Y./Bishop Kearney) and freshman Destiny Marino (Middle Village, N.Y./Christ the King) provided St. Joseph's their only offense of the game, each finishing 1-for-2 at the plate.

The Lady Bears' bats remained silent in game two as well, but starter Theresa Armano (Middle Village, N.Y./St. Francis Prep) matched zeroes with opposing pitcher Rachel Heizer.

Heizer flirted with perfection, retiring St. Joseph's first 17 batters. But with two outs in the bottom of the sixth, freshman Stephanie Rancel (Middle Village, N.Y./Christ the King) lined a double to left field, breaking up the perfect game while placing herself in scoring position as the go-ahead run.

Ferrigno then stepped up with two outs and the potential winning run at second in a scoreless game. The sophomore dropped a perfectly placed single between the centerfielder and pursuing infielders to bring Rancel home, giving the Lady Bears their first run and lead of the day.

Armano squeezed out of a jam in the top of the seventh to finish off her five-hit complete-game gem, improving her record in the circle to 5-5.

The Lady Bears were outhit 19-4 on the day, but still managed to salvage a crucial split at home against their future Skyline Conference rivals, and snapped a five-game skid.

St. Joseph's will return to action tomorrow night, opening HVIAC play at The College of New Rochelle with a doubleheader starting at 6 p.m. at Flowers Park.