Lady Bears Drop Heartbreaker in Extra Innings at USCAA Nationals

AKRON, OH – In a pitcher's duel that saw both pitchers combine for 27 strikeouts, the St. Joseph's College softball team dropped a 2-1 decision to Southern Virginia in extra innings in the first round of the USCAA National Softball Championships at Firestone Stadium in Akron, OH.

With the loss, #6 St. Joseph's (26-10-1) moves to the losers' bracket of the double-elimination tournament facing #7 seed Southern State Community College.  #3 Southern Virginia (22-9) will face #2 St. Mary-of-the-Woods in the second round.  Both teams play again tonight at 6:00 p.m.

The Lady Bears drew first blood in the top of the second when Alyson Chiaramonte (Staten Island, NY/Moore Catholic) led off with a single to left, advancing to second when the left fielder misplayed the well hit ball.  Caitlyn Kakavas (Bayside, NY/St. Agnes) bunted to move her to third and Chiaramonte scored with two-outs on a wild pitch.

In the circle, Chiaramonte tossed a gem, holding the Knights scoreless over the first four innings, until play was halted for 20 minutes due to a rain delay.

Southern Virginia equalized the game in the bottom of the fifth on a two-out single by Abbie Fisher that scored Lainie Thompson who singled earlier in the inning.

St. Joseph's threatened in the sixth putting runners at first and second with out, but couldn't move them across struggled all game to find hits against Southern Virginia starter Kyla Christmas who finished with 16 strikeouts and held the Lady Bears to three hits in the win.

Both teams went flawless through the seventh and eighth innings, the sides retired in order.

In the bottom of the second extra frame, Southern Virginia managed to pick up two singles off Chiaramonte placing runners on first and second.  The Lady Bears nearly escaped the inning with Chiaramonte earning her 10th and 11th strikeouts, but a fielding miscue with two-outs started a wild play that allowed Abigail Baxter to score from second for the deciding run.

Millicia Malvasio (Brooklyn, NY/Bishop Kearney) and Danielle Marino (Maspeth, NY/Mary Louis) knocked the only other hits for the Lady Bears.  Chiaramonte took the loss St. Joseph's allowing two runs (one earned) on six hits, with 11 strikeouts and two walks.