Lady Bears Surrender One-Hit to New York University Preserving Winning Streak
BROOKLYN, NY – The crowd of over 100 who attended Alumni, Family and Friends Day at National Grid field were treated to beautiful spring weather, great food and one of the most exciting finishes in St. Joseph's College history with the Lady Bears sweeping New York University 1-0 and 4-1 on Sunday afternoon. St. Joseph's is on a nine-game winning streak and 16-2 since returning from the Tucson Invitational Games to start the season.
The opener was an intense pitcher's duel with last week's HVWAC Player of the Week, Lisa Scheer(Queens, NY/Mary Louis), pitching a one-hit shutout for her eighth win of the season. The freshman pitcher carried a no-hitter through 6.1 innings until Ashley Serrano hit a soft liner past the outstretched glove of Carissa Cancemi(Queens, NY/Martin Luther) to break the no-no. Scheer finished with 11 strikeouts and hit two batters for the Bobcats only other baserunners in the game.
NYU starter Lindy Triebes kept the Lady Bears guessing all game with a combination of changeups and fastballs striking out 15 and allowing only two hits through six innings.
In the seventh inning, Triebes struck out Scheer for the first out of the inning, snapping her seven-game hitting streak. Alyson Chiaramonte(Staten Island, NY/Moore Catholic) doubled to right center giving St. Joseph's their first runner in scoring position all game. Triebes struck out Jackie Marinello (Brooklyn, NY/Fontbonne) for the second out.
Emily Palmieri(Staten Island, NY/St. John's Villa) delivered a line drive to right field. With two outs, Chiaramonte was running on contact and the Bobcats made a good relay for a play at the plate but Chiaramonte snuck her foot in to touch home just before the tag was applied and St. Joseph's had their first walk-off victory of the season.
In the second game, the bats came alive with both teams getting six hits apiece. Triebes started in the circle for the NYU and last week's AD3I & USCAA Pitcher of the Week, Chiaramonte, got the start for the Lady Bears.
NYU threatened to score first in the opening frame with a leadoff single and walk and using small ball to advance them to second and third with two outs. Chiaramonte struck out Stephanie Mascone to end the threat.
St. Joseph's responded by scoring two runs off a Caitlyn Kakavas(Queens, NY/St. Agnes) double and Scheer single up the middle. Scheer later scored on a throwing error by the catcher trying to pick her off on third.
NYU threatened again in the fourth with runners on second and third with only one out. On a grounder back to Chiaramonte, the runner on third tried to score and the Lady Bear defense held strong with a 1-3-2 double play to end the inning.
The Lady Bears responded again by tacking on another run in the bottom half of the inning with Chiaramonte leading off the inning with a triple down the left field line. Jillian Troise (Brooklyn, NY/Bishop Kearney) delivered her home with a single to right field.
The defense was the difference in the game preserving the shutout again in the fifth inning. With Mika Rothman on second and no one out, Ashlee Geiersingled through the right side and Rothman rounded third to head home. Marinello made a perfect throw from right to Palmieri who relayed to Kakavas at the plate to retire the Rothman. On the next batter, Marinello caught a fly ball and doubled up Geier on second with another great relay to Palmieri and Chiaramonte, ending the inning.
As was the theme all game, St. Joseph's backed up their great defense with some offense. Theresa Mendez(Queens, NY/St. Francis Prep) singled to lead off the inning and the next two batters popped out to bring Chiaramonte to the plate. Already batting 2-for-5 with a triple and a double, the Bobcats decided to intentionally walk her to get to Lauren Norris(Queens, NY/Long Island City) who was replacing Marinello. Norris delivered with a two-out single to right that scored Mendez from second for another insurance run.
Chiaramonte retired the side in order in the sixth and got the first two batters in the seventh to ground out softly before giving up back-to-back singles. Unfortunately the only Lady Bear error all day allowed the runner on second to score, spoiling the shutout and St. Joseph's closed out a 4-1 victory.
St. Joseph's improves to 17-7 on the season. They close out the regular season with four more home doubleheaders before defending their HVWAC regular season title in the conference tournament on May 2. The Lady Bears return to the field on Wednesday, April 22 facing Purchase College at National Grid Field in Brooklyn, NY. First pitch is scheduled for 5:00 p.m.