Hartwig’s 3-for-3 Game Helps Softball Split Twin Bill with Rutgers-Newark

NEWARK, N.J. – The St. Joseph's College (Brooklyn) softball team salvaged a split of their Sunday afternoon doubleheader against Rutgers University-Newark. Sophomore Ashleigh Hartwig (Santee, Calif./West Hills) totaled three hits, including a triple, in as many at-bats to lift the Bears (6-6) past the Scarlet Raiders (1-1), 3-1, in the back end of their twin bill.

Pitcher Jessica Mecham (West Jordan, Utah/Copper Hills) tossed her second complete game in as many starts, allowing three hits and a run to pick up her third win of the season.

The Bears were behind for much of the first game. They assembled a short-lived comeback in the seventh inning before coming out on the wrong end of a 6-3 final. 

How it Happened in Game 1

The Scarlet Raiders went on the board in the bottom of the second when Riley Scuralli single brought in the first run of the game. The Bears registered their first hit of the game on a Hartwig single in the top of the fourth however she was left stranded on first base.

The bottom of the fourth saw Scrualli pick up her second RBI single, bringing the score to 2-0. In the fifth inning, Vanessa Quigley (Staten Island, N.Y./New Dorp) scored on a Rutgers-Newark fielder's choice; cutting SJC's deficit to one, 2-1. The Scarlet Raiders drove in a run in their half of the inning to regain their two-run edge.

Their lead increased in the sixth inning, adding three more runs on four hits to go up 6-1. The navy and gray rallied in the top of the seventh inning, placing runners in scoring position with nobody out. Vivian Tomovich logged her second RBI of the game, sending Tayler Faraguna (San Diego, Calif./San Pasqual) home from third. Down 6-2 with on their final out, the Bears cut the Rutgers-Newark lead in half when Casey Bennett (Sacramento, Calif./Bella Vista) scored as Sierra Bedrin (Rocklin, Calif./Whitney) doubled down the left-field line. However, a ground out ended the game, 6-3, giving the Scarlet Raiders their first win of the season.

How it Happened in Game 2

Tomovich led off the game with a single to left before she scored on a Hartwig triple. Alexis Buchanan (Murrieta, Calif./Murrieta) extended the lead to 2-0 when doubled to bring in Hartwig.

St. Joseph's held on to their two-run advantage as Mecham hurled six innings of shutout ball, allowing just two hits. The Bears lead grew to 3-0 in the sixth thanks to an RBI double off the bat of Nicole Trani (Staten Island, N.Y./Moore Catholic).

Scuralli scored for Rutgers-Newark on a throwing error in the bottom of the seventh, avoiding the shutout. The Scarlet Raiders couldn't capitalize with a runner on second, handing the Bears the second game of the non-conference doubleheader.

For the Bears in Game 1

• Bedrin went 1-for-4 at the plate with a double and an RBI. In the circle, tossed six innings while striking out five, allowing 10 hits and six runs (three earned) as she falls to 1-2 on the year.
• Tomovich recorded two RBI despite going 0-for-4.
• Hartwig also went 1-for-4.
• Isabelle Calabrese (Smithtown, N.Y./Hauppauge) registered the Bears' third hit, going 1-for-1.

For the Bears in Game 2

• Hartwig scored two runs and notched an RBI while going 3-for-3 at the plate.
• Buchanan and Trani each went 1-for-3 and collected an RBI.
• Tomovich scored a run, going 1-for-3.
• Mecham (3-2) pitched all seven innings, striking out two batters, allowing a run and three hits

Up Next

The Bears are back in action on Sunday, March 22 with a road doubleheader against FDU-Florham. The games are scheduled for 12 and 2 p.m. with live stats available on SJCBears.com/live.