Marino Goes Yard Twice, Quintana Blasts First As Softball Halves With Sarah Lawrence

BRONXVILLE, N.Y. — Sophomore Destiny Marino (Howard Beach, N.Y./Christ the King) launched a pair of home runs over a three-hit, two-rbi day and freshman Nicole Quintana (Brooklyn, N.Y./St. Edmund Prep) lifted her first collegiate home run as the St. Joseph's College (Brooklyn) softball team picked up their third Skyline Conference victory in a road doubleheader split with Sarah Lawrence College on Saturday afternoon.

The Basics

• Final Score (Game 1): St. Joseph's 3, Sarah Lawrence 1
• Final Score (Game 2): Sarah Lawrence 8, St. Joseph's 7
• Records: St. Joseph's (6-13, 3-11 Skyline), Sarah Lawrence (7-18, 2-12 Skyline)
• Date: April 14, 2016
• Location: Bellerose, N.Y.
• Field: Padavan-Preller Field
• St. Joseph's Starters (Game 1): Simon (SS), Eddy (C), Ferrigno (2B), Rossi (LF), Gentile (1B), Armano (P), Marino (CF), Finnerty (RF), Quintana (3B)
• St. Joseph's Starters (Game 2): Simon (SS), Quintana (2B), Ferrigno (3B), Rossi (LF), Gentile (1B), Armano (DP), Marino (CF), Rancel (RF), Eddy (C)

How it Happened - Game 1

• The Lady Bears drew first blood in the third after a leadoff double from Nicole Quintana, moving to third on a grounder and scoring on an Erica Eddy sacrifice fly.
• Destiny Marino tacked on a solo run in the fourth with a two-out solo blast to left field putting the St. Joseph's up 2-0 and seemingly in control with Theresa Armano cruising in the circle retiring 12 straight batters after surrendering a leadoff single in the first.
• Samantha Rossi's steal of home on a double steal in the sixth gave the Lady Bears a three-run cushion, but the Gryphons spoiled the shutout in the home half on a Taryn Penna solo shot.
• Despite a leadoff Gryphon hit in the seventh and a Lady Bears error, Armano shutdown the threat with the tying-run at the plate for the complete game victory.

How it Happened - Game 2

• A pair of home runs highlighted a high-scoring third inning. Nicole Quintana lifted her first collegiate home run with a three-run blast that opened the scoring and a Maria Gentile sacrifice fly put St. Joseph's up 4-0. But the Gryphons countered with a pair of leadoff singles before Riley Vuyovich cut the deficit to one with a two-out, three-run blast that cut the deficit to one.
• Marino went yard for the second time on the afternoon to open the fourth pushing the lead to 5-3, before back-to-back home runs from Kamaron McNair and Olivia Henry highlighted a three-run frame that put the hosts on top.
• Sarah Lawrence tacked on two more insurance runs in the fifth aided by a Lady Bears miscue that extended the inning and that would prove to be the difference.
• Three straight hits from Rossi, Gentile and Armano to open the seventh set the stage for a comeback, Armano's single scoring Rossi to cut the deficit to two, but the rally lost momentum with a line out double play. Stephanie Rancel roped a two-out single to score Gentile but Mikayla Cunningham induced a groundout to seal the Gryphons first win over the Lady Bears.

For the Lady Bears

• Destiny Marino (3-for-7, 2 RBI, 2 R, 2 HR) led the team at the dish with three hits on the afternoon and her third and fourth home runs of the season.
• Maria Gentile (3-for-6, RBI, 2B) also knocked three hits over the twin bill and stole a base.
• Nicole Quintana (2-for-7, 3 RBI, 2 R, 2B, HR) launched her first collegiate home run and was the team's top run producer on the day.
• Samantha Rossi (2-for-7, 3 R) was the top run scorer with three runs, also swiping two bases.
• Quintana, Gentile, Rossi and Marino all hit successfully in both ends of the doubleheader.
• Theresa Armano (12.0 IP, 6 ER, 3 K) pitched all but one inning of the twin bill and improved to 5-8 in the circle. She helped her cause with a pair of hits and a RBI at the dish.

For the Gryphons

• Kamaron McNair (3-for-6, HR, RBI, 2 R) led the hosts with three hits on the day.
• Riley Vuyovich (2-for-7, HR 3 RBI, R), Olivia Henry (2-for-6, HR, RBI, 2 R) and Taryn Penna (2-for-7, HR, RBI, R) also went deep as the Gryphons had four home runs on the day.
• Mikayla Cunningham (11 IP, 5 ER, 3 K) took the loss in the circle starting in game one, but earned the win in relief in game two.

Inside the Box Scores

• Both teams combined for seven home runs on the day.
• The Gryphons held on for the win, despite committing five miscues in the nightcap. Only two of the St. Joseph's runs came unearned while two Lady Bears errors led to three unearned runs, including the deciding runs.

The Lady Bear Facts

• With the split, St. Joseph's maintains a 25-1 edge in the all-time series.
• The Lady Bears sit in a tie for seventh place with Old Westbury while Sarah Lawrence sits a game behind in a tie for ninth.

Next Up for St. Joseph's

The Lady Bears will continue Skyline Conference action heading to five-time defending champions Farmingdale State in a doubleheader on Sunday, April 17th. Game one is set to begin at 12 p.m. with live stats at SJCBears.com.