Softball Remains Hot, Sweeps Purchase on the Road

PURCHASE, N.Y. — The St. Joseph's College (Brooklyn) softball team (10-3, 8-3) scored 9-0 and 6-1 triumphs over Purchase College (0-14, 0-11) in Skyline Conference action on Saturday afternoon on the road.

Alexis Buchanan drove in four runs on the day with a pair of RBI in each end of the twin bill. Jessica Mecham fired a complete-game shutout in the opener and notched a save in game two and struck out nine on the afternoon. Briana Kilimet secured her first collegiate win in relief.

Game 1: St. Joseph's 9, Purchase 0 (5 innings)

• After a scoreless first, the Bears scored in each of the next four innings. 
• SJC opened the scoring in the second after Vanessa Quigley (2-3, 2 R, 2B)  knocked a two-out double and later scored after an error and passed ball.
• The Bears did their damage with two outs again in the third aided by a pair of Panther miscues.  Buchanan's (1-3, 2 RBI) two-run single highlighted the inning and pushed the lead to 4-0.
• A leadoff walk in the fourth by Casey Bennett (1-2, 2 R, 2B) set the table and Isabella Calabrese (2-3, 3 RBI, 3 R)  followed with an opposite-field single to send her home. Jessica Mecham helped her cause delivering Calabrese home the next play.
• In the fifth, Quigley's single followed by Bennett's double set up Calabrese for a two-run base knock. Tomovich scored Calabrese with a grounder to cap the scoring.
• The Panthers threatened in the second and fourth innings gaining runners at second and third, but Mecham (W, CG, 5 IP, 5 K, 0 ER, 4 H, 1 BB) worked out of both jams with strikeouts. A 1-2-3 inning in the fifth secured her first shutout of the season and keeping her in a share for the league lead with five victories.

Game 2: St. Joseph's 6, Purchase 1

• Purchase took their first and only lead of the day scoring a solo run in the third but the Bears responded with three runs in the fourth. Ashleigh Hartwig (2-3, 2 R, BB) opened the frame with a single and Bennett (1-4, R, 2B) laced her second double of the afternoon. Buchanan (2-4, 2 RBI, 2 R, 2B, SB) brought home both on an error and scored herself stealing third and trotting home on an error on the attempt.
• Another error in the fifth allowed one run to score for a 4-1 advantage, which they carried until the seventh before scoring two more insurance runs. A Buchanan double scored Hartwig and she later scored again on an error.
• Entering in relief in the third, Brianna Kilimet notched her first collegiate win working 1 2/3 scoreless, hitless innings, striking out two. Mecham (3 IP, 0 H, 0 ER) followed retiring all nine batters she faced, striking out four, to pick up the save. Allison Kaspar (2.1 IP, 1 ER, 5 H) gave up a lone run in a no decision in the start.

The Bear Facts

• With a 3-for-5 afternoon, Ashleigh Hartwig needs four more hits to join the 100-hit club. She is also working on a team-best 11-game hitting streak.
• The Bears recorded their first doubleheader sweep of the Panthers since the 2012 season and close the gap in the all-time series to 12-10 in favor of Purchase.
• St. Joseph's moved into a share of first place atop the Skyline standings with Mount Saint Mary. 

Next Up

Winners of 10 of their last 11, the Bears will wrap up their four-game series with Purchase in a home doubleheader tomorrow at noon at the SJC Outdoor Field Complex. Live video and stats will be available on SJCBears.com.