Mahoney’s No-Hitter Highlights Softball Sweep of Yeshiva in Skyline Opener

BRONX, N.Y. — St. Joseph's College (Brooklyn) senior Victoria Mahoney (Allenwood, N.J./Saint John Vianney) struck out nine in her first collegiate no-hitter as the Bears began their Skyline campaign taking 8-0 and 9-1 victories over Yeshiva University on Tuesday evening at Fordham University. The no-hitter was the first thrown by a Bear since 2014 and the 20th in program history.

Freshman Ashleigh Hartwig (Santee, Calif./West Hills) had a strong day at the dish with a pair of multi-hit games, knocking five hits and driving in five runs.

Game 1: St. Joseph's 8, Yeshiva 0 (6 inn)

Mahoney was near perfect in the circle, an error in the first allowing the only Maccabee baserunner all game.

After stranding two in the first and doing down in order in the second, the Bears broke through for a pair in the third. Jessica Vento (Massapequa, N.Y./Massapequa) led off with a single and scored when the throw to catch her stealing second sailed to the outfield and rolled to the wall. Mahoney helped her own cause singling home Vivian Tomovich (San Diego, Calif./Serra) who preceded her with a double.

In the third, Tomovich knocked another double to deliver Jaden Mecham (West Jordan, Utah/Copper Hills) and Vento. Tomovich later came home on a two-out Hartwig single to push the lead to 5-0.

The Bears put the first two batters on in the sixth when Tomovich was hit by a pitch and Mahoney legged out an infield single on her sacrifice attempt. A Yeshiva error allowed both Tomovich and Mahoney to score on a sacrifice attempt by Alexis Buchanan (Murrieta, Calif./Murrieta) who made it all the way to third on the miscue. Hartwig belted her third hit of the game to invoke the run rule.

Game 2: St. Joseph's 9, Yeshiva 1 (5 inn)

Yeshiva took an early lead with back-to-back hits, Sarah Hiller drilling a triple that scored Chana Boltax for a 1-0 advantage. But the Bears responded with three in the home half of the inning, quickly loading the bases with the first three batters reaching safely. The Maccabees then got a force out at home and an infield fly but walked Nicole Quintana (Brooklyn, N.Y./St. Edmund Prep) to tie the game and an error and a wild pitch allowed the Bears to pull ahead 3-1 after one.

St. Joseph's added solo runs in the next two frames, Hartwig delivering in the second and Mahoney drawing a bases-loaded walk.

The Bears loaded the bases again in the fourth and doubled their lead to reach the run threshold. Mahoney drew another bases-loaded walk, Buchanan followed with an RBI single, and Hartwig belted a two-run single to cap off a four-run frame.

For the Bears

• Victoria Mahoney improved to 3-2 in the circle, striking out nine, walking none. At the plate, she finish 3-for-5 with three RBI and three runs scored.
• Ashleigh Hartwig finished the twinbill 5-for-8 with five RBI.
• Vivian Tomovich was a perfect 3-for-3 on the day, accumulating five runs scored, two RBI, two doubles, two walks, three hit by pitches, and a pair of stolen bases.
• Jessica Mecham leveled her record at 2-2 in the circle scattering four hits over five innings, striking out seven, walking none, allowing one earned run.
• Jessica Vento and Alexis Buchanan both went 3-for-6 with two runs scored. Vento also stealing a pair of bases and Buchanan picking up a RBI.

Next Up for the Bears

The Bears return to Gil Hodges Field on Saturday (Mar. 23) to host SUNY College at Old Westbury in a Skyline Conference doubleheader starting at noon. Live stats and video will be available on SJCBears.com.