Lady Bears Softball Cruises to HVWAC Invitational Title

BRONXVILLE, N.Y. – The St. Joseph's College (Brooklyn) softball team captured the 2013 Hudson Valley Women's Athletic Conference Invitational Tournament title defeating Yeshiva University, 12-0, in the semifinals and Sarah Lawrence College, 14-1, in the championship on Sunday afternoon at the Mary Levine Field.

Sophomore Jackie Perillo (Howard Beach, NY/Archbishop Molloy) earned Tournament MVP honors with a career day finishing a perfect 7-for-7 at the dish with two home runs, eight RBI and six runs scored and earned the win in a combined no-hitter in the semifinals, finishing the season 8-6 in the circle.

St. Joseph's (15-17-1) wins their fifth straight HVWAC tournament title and conclude their 2013 season on a high note.

In the semifinals vs. Yeshiva (2-1), Perillo and senior Danielle Marino (Maspeth, NY/Mary Louis) combined for their second no-hitter over the last week as the Lady Bears dominated from the very beginning taking a 5-0 lead after two innings. St. Joseph's put the game away with a six spot in the third building an 11-0 lead before tacking on another run in the fourth with the game being called after five via run rule.

In the championship game vs. Sarah Lawrence (2-26), the Lady Bears received a combined two-hitter from senior Mabel Vargas (Ridgewood, NY/Mary Louis) and Marino. The Gryphons struck first with a run in the top of the first taking an early 1-0 lead before St. Joseph's responded with 11 runs over the next two innings including an eight-run second to take an 11-1 lead. The Lady Bears would plate three more runs in the fourth for the final tally.

Freshman Laura Innocente (Staten Island, NY/St. John Villa) finished the day going 2-for-4 including her first career home run finishing with two RBI and two runs scored. Senior Andrea Sideli (Brooklyn, NY/Bishop Kearney) concluded her career going 4-for-6 with three RBI, three runs scored, two doubles and a triple. Senior Millicia Malvasio (Brooklyn, NY/Bishop Kearney) ended the day going 2-for-5 with three RBI and three runs scored.

TURNING POINTS – YESHIVA

After Perillo set the Maccabees down in order in the top of the first, the Lady Bears sent six batters to the plate with two runs scoring helped by a RBI groundout from Vargas and a double to right field from Sideli that scored Marino putting St. Joseph's up 2-0 after one inning of play.

The Lady Bears tacked on three more in the second inning to build a 5-0 advantage before putting up six runs in the third on a two-RBI single from Malvasio, a three-run home run to center field from Perillo and another RBI double from Sideli putting St. Joseph's up 11-0 with the deficit proving to be too much to overcome for Yeshiva.

TURNING POINTS – SARAH LAWRENCE

Sarah Lawrence struck first with a run in the top of the first to take a 1-0 lead before the Lady Bears responded with three runs in the bottom half of the inning helped by a Vargas RBI ground out, Sideli triple to left field and a Morgan Summers (Bellerose, NY/St. Mary's) single to center field to take a 3-1 advantage. St. Joseph's backed that up with an eight spot in the bottom of the second, highlighted by a leadoff home run by Innocente, taking an 11-0 lead that they would not relinquish.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Marino pitched a combined two scoreless innings between the two games allowing no hits with one strikeout.
• The Lady Bears committed only one error on the day.
• Cassandra Molinari went 3-for-6 with two RBI and two runs scored.
• Ten of St. Joseph's 24 hits went for extra bases.

NEWS AND NOTES

• In ceremonies after the tournament, Danielle Marino, Jackie Perillo, Mabel Vargas and Cassandra Molinari were all named to the 2013 HVWAC All-Conference Team.
• The Lady Bears have now won 23 straight games in HVWAC play and remain perfect against Sarah Lawrence (21-0) in the all-time series.
• The no-hitter in the semifinals was the 18th in Lady Bears history.
• St. Joseph's improves to 29-0-1 since 2008 when a Lady Bears homers.
• Vargas' win in the championship game was the tenth of her career.