Softball Turned Away In Pitcher’s Duels At Sage

TROY, N.Y. — Trying to move into playoff position with league victory against last year's runner-up, the St. Joseph's College (Brooklyn) softball battled with Sage Colleges to a pair of 3-0 defeats on Sunday afternoon.

Sophomore Victoria Mahoney (Allenwood, N.J./Saint John Vianney) was stuck with the loss in game one, despite striking out nine over six innings and allowing no earned runs.

Game Info

• Final Score: Sage 3, St. Joseph's 0 (Game) Sage 3, St. Joseph's 0 (Game 2)
• Location: Troy, N.Y.
• Field: Robison Field
• Records: Sage (17-15, 12-4), St. Joseph's (14-10, 4-8)

Game 1: Sage 3, St. Joseph's 0

• SJC Starters: Rancel (LF), Csikortos (2B), Ferrigno (3B), Wainwright (DP), Baglino (C), Marino (CF), Gentile (1B), Rossi (RF), Simon (SS), Mahoney (P)
• A Bears miscue in the bottom of the first opened the door for a two-out three-run home run by Destiny Wierzbicki that provided all the scoring in the contest as Victoria Mahoney struck out the side.
• After the early hiccup, Mahoney held the Gators scoreless and to just four hits over the next five frames. Only one batter reached second base the remainder of the game as she struck out six more.
• But the Bears couldn't get the runs back against Amy Hart who finished with a no-hitter and the Bears gained only four base runners all game.

SJC Highlights

• Stephanie Rancel drew a walk and stole a base in the sixth to move into scoring position.
• Kristin Ferrigno nearly broke the no-hitter with a well-hit ball to that was chased down by the left fielder by the line and ruled an error.
• Victoria Mahoney fell one shy of her career high with nine strikeouts.

Game 2: Sage 3, St. Joseph's 0

• SJC Starters: Csikortos (RF), Rancel (LF), Wainwright (C), Ferrigno (3B), Gentile (1B), Quintana (2B), Rossi (DP), Marino (CF), Simon (SS), Armano (P) 
• A solo home run by Alex Silk in the bottom of the third started the scoring as the Gators finished with two runs in the inning and tacked on an insurance run in the sixth.
• The Bears managed to draw walks in the first three innings all three runners advanced to scoring position—twice by sacrifice, one by wild pitch—but the Bears couldn't bring her around to score.
• A Kristin Ferrigno double to lead off the fourth was the first official hit for the Bears on the afternoon and she later knocked a single in the sixth, but those would be all the hits allowed by Amy Hart on the day.
• The Gators loaded the bases with no outs in the fourth, but the Bears came out unscathed as Destiny Marino made a Sportscenter-worthy play in center laying out for a shallow fly ball to maintain the Bears deficit at 2-0.

SJC Highlights

• Kristin Ferrigno knocked both Bears hits finishing 2-for-3
• Stephanie Rancel, Maria Gentile Destiny Marino and Samantha Simon all drew walks.
• Theresa Armano took the loss allowing three runs on 12 hits, striking out one and walking one.

The Bear Facts

• In the first and only other meeting with Sage, the Gators outscored the Bears 28-3 over a pair of run-rule victories last season.

Next Up for St. Joseph's

The Bears will continue their playoff push opening the final week of the regular season on Tuesday, April 25 hosting SUNY College at Old Westbury in a Skyline Conference doubleheader at the SJC Outdoor Field Complex in Patchogue. First pitch is slated for 5:30 p.m. with live stats and video on SJCBears.com