Molinari and Perillo Cross Century Marks as Softball Defeats Cincinnatti-Clermont in USCAA Nationals Opener

AKRON, Ohio—A big six-run sixth inning powered the St. Joseph's College (Brooklyn) softball team to a 9-1 victory over University of Cincinnati-Clermont in the opening round of the 2015 United States Collegiate Athletic Association National Championships at Firestone Stadium on Monday afternoon.

With the victory, the No. 7 seeded Lady Bears (23-16) move on to face No. 2 Carlow University in a winners bracket quarterfinal tonight at 8 p.m. The No. 10 Cougars (12-4) fall to the losers bracket of the 10-team, double-elimination tournament.

Destiny Marino (Middle Village, N.Y./Christ the King) paced the Lady Bears with a 2-for-3 day with two RBI and a run scored. Samantha Simon (Brooklyn, N.Y./Bishop Kearney) also had a 2-for-3 day with a run scored.

Seniors Cassandra Molinari (Brooklyn, N.Y./St. Edmund Prep) and Jackie Perillo (Howard Beach, N.Y./Archbishop Molloy) both crossed the century milestones, Molinari collecting her 100th career RBI to end the game while Perillo walked twice and scored twice to amass her 100th career run.

Jamilynn McGowan (Staten Island, N.Y./Michael J. Petrides) shut down the Cougars firing six strong innings scattering one hit, striking out four and walking none, her lone run coming unearned, improving to 11-8 in the circle.

The Lady Bears built a 3-0 lead plating one run in the first on a Samantha Rossi (Bayside, N.Y./Mary Louis) single and scored two runs in the fourth on a Maria Gentile (Brooklyn, N.Y./Fontbonne Hall) grounder and Marino two-out single.

The Cougars finally managed to get on the board in the sixth aided by two Lady Bear miscues, but St. Joseph's got the run quickly back on another Gentile grounder followed by back-to-back RBI singles from Shannon Rom (Breezy Point, N.Y./Bishop Kearney) and Marino as the inning ballooned for the Lady Bears scoring five runs before the Cougars could record an out.

Making their first appearance in the national championships since 2012, the victory is the first opening game win for the Lady Bears in seven appearances all time. Live stats and video for tonight's game available at SJCBears.com.