McGowan Hurls Three-Hit Gem Leading Softball to Split With Defending Champs Farmingdale

FARMINGDALE, N.Y. — Junior Jamilynn McGowan's (Staten Island, N.Y./Michael J. Petrides) three-hit shutout powered the St. Joseph's College (Brooklyn) softball team to a game-one upset victory on the road over five-time defending Skyline champions Farmingdale State College, but the Rams evened the score in a 3-1 game two triumph for the doubleheader split on Sunday afternoon.

The Basics

• Final Score (Game 1): St. Joseph's 4, Farmingdale State 0
• Final Score (Game 2): Farmingdale State 3, St. Joseph's 1
• Records: Farmingdale State (14-12, 12-4 Skyline), St. Joseph's (7-14, 4-12 Skyline)
• Date: April 17, 2016
• Location: Farmingdale, N.Y.
• Field: FSC Softball Field
• St. Joseph's Starters (Game 1): Simon (SS), Quintana (2B), Armano (DP), Rossi (LF), Gentile (1B), Ferrigno (3B), Marino (CF), Rancel (RF), Eddy (C), McGowan (P)
• St. Joseph's Starters (Game 2): Simon (SS), Quintana (2B), Armano (P), Rossi (LF), Gentile (1B), Ferrigno (3B), Marino (CF), Rancel (RF), Eddy (C)

How it Happened - Game 1

• The Lady Bears got on the scoreboard early with a three-hit rally in the top of the first. Samantha Simon led off the game with a single and advanced to second on Nicole Quintana's sacrifice bunt. Theresa Armano's single then placed runners on the corners, setting the table for Samantha Rossi's RBI single, which proved to be the game-winner.
• As starter Jamilynn McGowan shut down Farmingdale, St. Joseph's tacked on a solo run in the fourth inning and two more in the fifth. Kristin Ferrigno highlighted the fifth with a run-scoring double.
• The four-cushion would be all McGowan needed, as she cruised to a three-hit shutout and allowed just one runner past second base all game.

How it Happened - Game 2

• The Lady Bears used another three-hit opening frame to plate one run for an early lead. Simon led off the game with a single and Armano drove her home after being sacrificed to second with a double. But the Rams countered with one in the home half of the inning on a Lori Michalowski double.
• Farmingdale grabbed their first lead of the day with two more in the second inning. Meagan Anderson capped the rally with another run scoring double.
• The Lady Bears put runners on first and second in the fifth with one out after a Nicole Quintana single and a Samantha Rossi walk, but came away empty handed.
• Farmingdale starter Jaxie Collard locked in after the first for a scoreless final six innings to edge out Armano for the win.

For the Lady Bears

• Samantha Rossi (4-for-7, RBI, R) led the Lady Bears with four base knocks on the afternoon, two in each end of the twinbill.
• Kristin Ferrigno (2-for-7, RBI, 2 R, 2B), Theresa Armano (2-for-8, RBI, 2B) and Erica Eddy (0-for-6, RBI) drove in the rest of St. Joseph's runs.
• Starter Jamilynn McGowan (7.0 IP, 0 ER, 3 H, 2 K) shut out the Rams in the opener to improve to 2-5 in the circle. Armano (6.0 IP, 3 ER ,8 H, 2 K) was on the wrong end of a game two pitcher's duel, falling to 5-9 on the season.

For the Rams

• Megan Anderson (3-for-6, RBI, 2B) slugged a team-high three hits on the afternoon.
• Kerri Ossenfort (1-for-2, RBI, R) and Lori Michalowski (1-for-6, RBI, 2B) drove in the remainder of the Rams' three runs on the day.
• Starter Jaxie Collard (14.0 IP, 4 ER, 17 H, 5 K) tossed all 14 innings for Farmingdale, limiting the Lady Bears to just four runs in the span.

Inside the Box Scores

• The Lady Bears' defense was perfect on the day, while the Rams committed five miscues, four of them in game one.

The Lady Bear Facts

• Juniors Samantha Rossi and Kristin Ferrigno inch closer to joining the coveted 100-hit club. Rossi needs two more hits while Ferrigno needs six more knocks.
• Jamilynn McGowan's shutout was her second of the season and seventh of her career.
• The Lady Bears snapped a two-game losing streak against Farmingdale, but the all-time series remains 5-3 in the Rams' favor with the teams meeting for the first time since 2011.
• Farmingdale was picked to finish first in the preseason Skyline coaches' poll and FSC starter Jaxie Collard, who suffered the game 1 loss, currently leads the league in wins (13).
• With the split, the Lady Bears sit in a tie for seventh place with Old Westbury and just one win behind Purchase College in sixth place and Skyline Tournament position. Purchase will visit Padavan-Preller Field on Sunday, April 24th for the Lady Bears' Skyline finale.

Next Up for St. Joseph's

The Lady Bears take a brief break from 10-straight Skyline games, facing CUNYAC foe Lehman College for a non-conference road doubleheader on Thursday, April 21 with first pitch set for 4 p.m.