Softball Coasts to Seventh Consecutive HVIAC Tournament Championship

NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. - The St. Joseph's College (Brooklyn) softball team (22-16, 2-0 HVIAC) claimed their seventh consecutive Hudson Valley Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Tournament title in impressive fashion on Sunday, defeating Sarah Lawrence College (5-26) 11-3 in the semifinal and Yeshiva University (6-18, 1-1 HVIAC) 7-3 in the championship.

The Lady Bears put Sarah Lawrence at risk early in the semifinal with a three-run first and five-run second.

Sophomore Kristin Ferrigno (Brooklyn, N.Y./Bishop Kearney) led off the first with a bunt single, eventually stealing second and scoring on an error to manufacture St. Joseph's first run.

Later in the inning, sophomore Samantha Rossi (Bayside, N.Y./Mary Louis) connected for a run-scoring double and scored on a wild pitch to cap off the initial rally.

The Lady Bears tightened their grip on the contest in the second, erupting for six hits and five more runs. Ferrigno, junior Erica Eddy (Glendale, N.Y./Christ the King) and sophomore Samantha Simon (Brooklyn, N.Y./Bishop Kearney) all delivered RBI singles in the inning.

With freshman Theresa Armano (Middle Village, N.Y./St. Francis Prep) in control in the circle, the relentless Lady Bears tacked on three more insurance runs in the fourth as they looked to punch their ticket to another finals appearance.

The Gryphons awoke for a three-run rally in the fifth, but Armano shut the door on the comeback attempt to improve to 11-8 in the circle. The freshman struck out six and scattered just three hits over five innings.

In the other semifinal, Yeshiva handled The College of New Rochelle 11-6 to set up a rematch of last season's final, which St. Joseph's won 14-1.

Yeshiva would keep things more interesting this year, but the Lady Bears seized control in the early going once again.

In the first, Ferrigno was the catalyst again with a leadoff walk. Simon drew first blood with a run-scoring base knock and senior Jackie Perillo (Howard Beach, N.Y./Archbishop Molloy) singled to right to bring Simon home.

After stealing home in the second inning, Eddy delivered an RBI double in the fourth to make it 4-0 as St. Joseph's gradually grew their advantage.

Ferrigno's RBI single culminated a two-run fifth inning and St. Joseph's tacked on one more in the sixth.

Starter Jamilynn McGowan (Staten Island, N.Y./Michael J. Petrides) reentered the circle in the top of the seventh nursing a 7-0 advantage and three outs away from a championship.

Yeshiva refused to go quietly, loading the bases to set up senior Rena Genauer's three-RBI double. But McGowan remained composed, retiring the next two batters to clinch the title. The sophomore fanned eight batters in a seven-inning complete-game to earn her tenth victory in the biggest game of the season.

Combining for 21 of the teams' 22 victories this season, Armano and McGowan fittingly combined for the wins in the circle today. Samantha Simon collected the Tournament MVP after finishing the day 4-for-6 with one RBI.

HVIAC Tournament champions for the seventh straight season, St. Joseph's will now turn their attention to the United States Collegiate Athletic Association National Championships. The No. 7 Lady Bears will open play against No. 10 Cincinnati-Clermont on Monday, May 11 at 10 a.m. in Akron, Ohio.