Softball Halts Skid With Sweep of John Jay

BROOKLYN, N.Y. — Freshman Jessica Mecham (West Jordan, Utah/Copper Hills) fired a three-hit shutout and Gabriella Salvador (Staten Island, N.Y./New Dorp) knocked four hits and drove in as many runs as the St. Joseph's College (Brooklyn) softball team (12-17) got back into the win column taking 8-0 and 9-2 triumphs over John Jay College (10-14) on Thursday afternoon at Gil Hodges Field.

Game 1: St. Joseph's 8, John Jay 0 (5 inn)

The Bears scored in every inning but the second, posting two in the first, three in the third, two in the fourth an a solo run in the fifth to reach the run threshold.

Eight of the Bears starters knocked a hit with Alexis Buchanan (Murrieta, Calif./Murrieta), Salvador and Mecham each finishing 2-for-3 in the opener.

Salvador started the scoring in the first with a two-out RBI single for the eventual game-winner and Brianna Baglino knocked one through the left side to put the Bears up 2-0. SJC pushed the lead to 5-0 plating three on just one hit in the third, highlighted by Allison Kaspar's (Miller Place, N.Y./Rocky Point) two-run single.

Mecham worked three perfect innings before Jessica Barbaria led off the fourth with a double and reached third on a sacrifice, but Mecham escaped the threat inducing a grounder and picking up one of her four strikeouts.

Leading 7-0, the Bears quickly loaded the bases in the fifth with one out and Buchanan drove a ball to the ball in left that would have scored at least two but finished as a long single with the Bears needing just one run for the run rule.

Game 2: St. Joseph's 9, John Jay 2

The Bears faced their first deficit of the day with John Jay drawing first blood with two in the first. St. Joseph's halved the deficit in the bottom half gaining runners at the corners after a Mecham walk and a Buchanan single and both successfully executing a double steal with Mecham taking home.

SJC still trailed 2-1 entering the third before putting up five to take the lead for good. An Ashleigh Hartwig (Santee, Calif./West Hills) grounder tied the game at 2-2 and two batters later Salvador delivered her second game-winner of the day with a two-run single.

After the early blemish, Bears starter Madison Erhardt (Baltimore, Md./Dulaney) settled in the circle and scattered six hits over the next six scoreless frames for the complete-game win. John Jay threatened in the fourth but Vanessa Quigley (Staten Island, N.Y./New Dorp) gunned down a Bloodhound at the plate to end the inning.

The Bears padded their lead with three in the fifth. Gabriella Fielding (Melville, N.Y./Half Hollow Hills) capped off a 3-for-3 game with a RBI single to start the scoring in the frame, Nicole Quintana (Brooklyn, N.Y./St. Edmund Prep) delivered a run with a sacrifice fly and Quigley knocked an opposite-field single to extend the lead to 9-2.

For the Bears

• Jessica Mecham and Madison Erhardt both went the distance in the circle fanning four. Mecham leveled her record to 4-4 with her third shutout of the season and Erhardt improved to 2-4.
• Gabriella Salvador batted 4-for-7 on the day with four RBI, two runs scored and her double the lone extra-base hit for the Bears.
• Ashleigh Hartwig finished 3-for-6, scoring four times and driving in one.
• Gabriella Fielding and Nicole Quintana both drove in a pair of runs in the nightcap.

Next Up for the Bears

The Bears return to Gil Hodges Field tomorrow (Apr. 19) to celebrate Senior Day honoring co-captains Victoria Mahoney and Nicole Quintana in a key Skyline Conference matchup against Sarah Lawrence College. Senior Day ceremonies will start at 2:45 p.m. with game one first pitch set for 3 p.m. Live stats and video will be available at SJCBears.com.