Softball Sees Skyline Tournament Hopes Slip Away With Two Extra-Inning Losses to Purchase on Senior Day

BELLEROSE, N.Y. — Sophomore Maria Gentile (Brooklyn, N.Y./Fontbonne Hall) drove in four runs and senior Erica Eddy (Glendale, N.Y./Christ the King) collected a pair of hits, including a triple, on Senior Day at Padavan-Preller Field on Sunday afternoon, but Purchase College rallied late for a pair of extra-inning victories to oust the St. Joseph's College (Brooklyn) softball team from playoff contention.

The Basics

• Final Score (Game 1): Purchase 10, St. Joseph's 7 (8 Innings)
• Final Score (Game 2): Purchase 10, St. Joseph's 9 (8 Innings)
• Records: Purchase (19-9, 7-9 Skyline), St. Joseph's (9-16, 4-14 Skyline)
• Date: April 24, 2016
• Location: Bellerose, N.Y.
• Field: Padavan-Preller Field
• St. Joseph's Starters (Game 1): Simon (SS), Quintana (2B), Armano (P), Rossi (LF), Gentile (1B), Ferrigno (3B), Marino (CF), Rancel (RF), Eddy (C)
• St. Joseph's Starters (Game 2): Simon (SS), Quintana (2B), Armano (DP), Rossi (LF), Gentile (1B), Ferrigno (3B), Marino (CF), Rancel (RF), Eddy (C), McGowan (P)

How it Happened - Game 1

• The Lady Bears grabbed a quick 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first. Run scoring singles from Maria Gentile and Destiny Marino highlighted the five-hit frame.
• Purchase got one back in the second with a sacrifice fly, but St. Joseph's countered with two more in the bottom half to extend their lead. Nicole Quintana brought one in with an RBI double and Gentile delivered another run scoring single to cap the inning.
• The Lady Bears tacked on one in the third inning and one more in the fourth to move up 7-2 after four innings, but Purchase stormed back with a four-run fifth to draw within one. ToniAnn Licata highlighted the outburst with a two-RBI double and Samantha Alonzo's ensuing base knock plated two more, but she was caught at second trying to stretch the single and some controversy ensued as she was ejected from the game colliding with Samantha Simon sliding into second.
• Trailing 7-6 and three outs from defeat, the Panthers fought to draw even in the seventh. With two outs and a runner on first, Kylia Maddox-Langley delivered the game-tying double with a flare to center that fell safely in between three SJC defenders..
• St. Joseph's offense was held scoreless in the bottom half to force extra innings and Purchase's offense rode their momentum into the eighth, with a Lady Bears miscue to open the extra frame helped open up a three-run inning with all the runs coming unearned.

How it Happened - Game 2

• The Lady Bears struck early with another three-run first. Samantha Rossi got SJC on the board with a ground out RBI and Maria Gentile and Kristen Ferrigno followed it up with two-out singles.
• Purchase countered in the next two innings with one in the second and four in the third to claim a 5-3 lead. Kelly Hayes and Lisa Kentris highlighted the span with back-to-back home runs in the third inning, a three-run and solo shot, respectively.
• In the top of the fifth, Purchase extended their lead off a pair of Lady Bears miscues, that allowed two more unearned runs to cross.
• Trailing 7-3, the Lady Bears' offense rallied for three in the sixth inning to cut the deficit to one. Singles from Marino and Stephanie Rancel followed by an Erica Eddy hit by pitch set up a Samantha Simon bases loaded walk and Theresa Armano capped the rally with a two-run single to right with two outs.
• Facing defeat in the seventh, the Lady Bears rallied again to draw even. A walk and two singles loaded them up for Stephanie Rancel, who connected for the game-tying single. With the bases still loaded and nobody out, St. Joseph's would be unable to push across the winning run. Reliever Lisa Kentris recorded three consecutive outs, two of them strikeouts, to force extras.
• The Panthers reclaimed the advantage in the eighth, pushing three across on three hits with Kelly Hayes delivering the go-ahead single.
• St. Joseph's threatened again in the bottom half. Armano led off the inning with a walk, advanced to second on a wild pitch and then scored on Samantha Rossi's single, who advanced to third on a throwing error. Gentile's ensuing single brought Rossi home to cut the deficit to 10-9, but Kentris fought out of another jam, retiring three straight to secure the sweep.

For the Lady Bears

• Nicole Quintana (4-for-9, 3 RBI, 4 R, 2B) and Destiny Marino (4-for-9, RBI, 2 R, 3B) led the way with four hits apiece on the afternoon.
• Maria Gentile (4-for-7, 4 RBI, 2 R, 2 2B) produced a team-high four RBI in the twinbill, two in each end.
• Senior Erica Eddy (2-for-5, RBI, 2 R, 3B) collected a pair of hits and laced a triple in the opener.
• Theresa Armano (3-for-7, 2 RBI, 2 R, 2 2B) and Kristen Ferrigno (3-for-8, 2 RBI, 2B) contributed three hits and a pair of RBI apiece.
• Starters Theresa Armano (8.0 IP, 4 ER, 5 SO) and Jamilynn McGowan (8.0 IP, 7 ER, 1 SO) each went the distance but suffered the loss.

For the Panthers

• Briana Leon (5-for-8, RBI, 4 R) led the visitors with five hits, including a game-high four in game one.
• Kelly Hayes (4-for-10, HR, 4 RBI, 3 R) and Lisa Kentris (2-for-10, HR, 2 RBI, 3 R) each recorded home runs, with Hayes finishing with a team-high four RBI, all in game two.
• Kylia Maddox-Langley (4.0 IP, 0 ER, 5 SO) picked up the victory in game one after spinning four scoreless innings in relief. Kentris (2.0 IP, 2 ER, 3 SO) earned the win in the capper, fighting out of two jams to finish off the sweep.

Inside the Box Scores

• St. Joseph's made the most of their scoring opportunities batting 14-for-30 (.467) with runners in scoring position.
• The Lady Bears committed eight errors in the field that allowed nine of the 20 runs to come across unearned.

The Lady Bear Facts

• After a three-hit day, Kristin Ferrigno is now one hit shy of joining the 100-hit club.
• Needing a sweep to remain in contention, the Lady Bears fall short of a Skyline Conference Tournament berth and finish their inaugural season in the league in eighth place.
• Purchase clinched the sixth-and-final tournament spot with the sweep.
• Purchase draws closer in the all-time series, but St. Joseph's maintains the 14-12 edge.

Next Up for St. Joseph's

The Lady Bears will conclude their first season under Head Coach Danielle Fazzolare on Sunday, May 1 with a road doubleheader against John Jay starting at noon at Randall's Island.