Pitchers Dominate in Clash With Old Westbury
BROOKLYN, NY – Sophomore Alyson Chiaramonte (Staten Island, NY/Moore Catholic) struck out 12 batters and allowed only two hits, leading the St. Joseph's College softball team to a 6-0 non-conference victory over Old Westbury on Tuesday night at National Grid Greenpoint Softball Field. The Panthers earned a split in the nightcap, 4-0, behind a 16 strikeout shutout from freshman Alyssa Clancy (Remsenburg, NY).
The victory is Chiaramonte's fourth shutout this season and the second going the full seven innings. Chiaramonte also led the Lady Bears at the plate going 5-for-6 for the twinbill, extending her hitting streak to 11 games, adding an RBI, a run scored and a double.
Caitlyn Kakavas (Bayside, NY/St. Agnes) and Millicia Malvasio (Brooklyn, NY/Bishop Kearney) both picked up a pair of hits with an RBI and a run scored for the series. Both of Malvasio's hits came in the opener, snapping her eight-game hitting streak.
In addition to pitching her fourth straight shutout, Clancy led Old Westbury (11-12) at the plate collecting three hits, two RBI and a run scored.
St. Joseph's (14-8) returns to action on the road on Thursday, April 15th for a non-conference doubleheader against Brooklyn College. Game one is scheduled to begin at 4 p.m.
Game 1 – St. Joseph's 6, Old Westbury 0
All of St. Joseph's runs came from a six-run outburst in the third inning where the Lady Bears reached starter Deborah Ciccarelli (Smithtown, NY) for six hits.
Chiaramonte started the run parade with a single to center that scored Malvasio who drew a leadoff walk. Kakavas followed with another single to left that scored Lisa Scheer (Bayside, NY/Mary Louis). After Emily Palmieri (Staten Island, NY/St. John's Villa) walked to load the bases, Andrea Sideli (Brooklyn, NY/Bishop Kearney), Lauren Norris (Sunnyside, NY/Long Island City) and Mabel Vargas (Ridgewood, NY/Mary Louis) brought three more runs home with back-to-back-to-back singles. Malvasio capped the scoring with a sacrifice fly.
A six-run cushion was more than enough for Chiaramonte who was dominant in the circle, allowing only two base runners all game, sprinkling lone hits in the second and fourth innings and walking none. Her 12 strikeouts matches her season best, set earlier this season against City Tech, and falls one shy of her career best.
Game 2 – Old Westbury 4, St. Joseph's 0
Old Westbury scored two runs in the first to give Clancy all the run support she needed. The reigning Skyline Rookie of the Week entered the circle on a 20-inning scoreless streak, where she allowed only five hits.
Clancy held the Lady Bears scoreless through three innings and the Lady Bears appeared to finally get on the board in the fourth inning on a Chiaramonte drive to left center which would have gone for an inside-the-park home run, but a controversial call on an appeal play ruled that she had missed second base. In the ensuing argument, assistant coach Luke Klimaszewski was ejected from the game.
St. Joseph's went silent until their final at bat when Chiaramonte, who went 3-for-3 for the game, led off with a double and Kakavas followed with a single to bring the tying run to the plate with no outs. However, Clancy shut down the threat forcing a groundout and striking out the final two Lady Bears.
Scheer (5-5), who was named USCAA Co-Pitcher of the Week and AD3I Player of the Week earlier today, took the loss in the circle, with a strong outing giving up four runs (three earned), striking out six and walking two.