Softball Extends Winning Streak to Five With Sweep of Lehman

BRONX, NY – Jackie Marinello (Brooklyn, NY/Fontbonne) had three hits, with two runs and two RBI and Emily Palmieri(Staten Island, NY/St. John's Villa) had one hit, three runs and three RBI in two non-conference wins over Lehman College on Thursday.  The St. Joseph's College softball team improves to 13-7 on the season and is on a five-game winning streak.

The Lady Bears captured the first game 14-8 in a sloppy defensive game that saw both teams combine for 13 errors.  St. Joseph's took an early 3-0 lead in the second inning, managing three runs on a hit, walk, and two Lightning errors.  After adding another run in the third inning, Lehman cut the Lady Bear lead in half to 4-2, scoring two in their half of the frame. 

St. Joseph's added another solo run in the fourth before Lehman came back to tie the game in the bottom half scoring three runs on two doubles to left and two St. Joe's errors.

The Lady Bears broke the game open with a six spot in the sixth inning, Catherine Norris(Queens, NY/Long Island City) hitting a two-run single with the bases loaded the only Lady Bear hit in the frame.  They added three more runs in the seventh building an insurmountable lead.  Lehman attempted a late rally scoring three runs but would fall short.

Lisa Scheer(Queens, NY/Mary Louis) picked up her sixth win of the season in the circle striking out six with no walks, eight hits and four earned runs.

St. Joseph's played with a sense of urgency in game two as darkness threatened the completion of the game.  The Lady Bears plated five runs in the first before Lehman managed their first out.  Theresa Mendez started off the rally with a leadoff double to right.

The Lady Bears added a run in the second, with Scheer scoring her team-high fifth run of the series.  St. Joe's would have scored more in the inning with a Jillian Troise (Brooklyn, NY/Bishop Kearney) liner destined for the outfield with the bases loaded being robbed by Luz Garcia who doubled up Marinello on second to end the inning.

Alyson Chiaramonte(Staten Island, NY/Moore Catholic), last week's USCAA and HVWAC Pitcher of the Week, got the start in the circle, but got off to a slow start giving up three hits and allowing two runs before retiring the rest of the side on strikeouts.  She settled down after the opening frame, shutting down the Lightning offense over the final four innings, allowing only two more hits and no runs.  Chiaramonte finished with nine strikeouts and improves to 7-3, winning her last five starts.

With St. Joseph's leading 8-2 the game was called due to darkness after five innings.

St. Joseph's hosts College of New Rochelle on Saturday, April 18 for a conference twin-bill starting at 12 p.m. at National Grid Softball Field in Greenpoint, Brooklyn.