Softball Sweeps Unbeaten Baruch, Extending Win Streak to Five

BROOKLYN, N.Y. — Ashleigh Hartwig (Santee, Calif./West Hills) drove in five runs and Autumn Poppett (San Diego, Calif./Mission Hills) struck out nine as the St. Joseph's College (Brooklyn) handed Baruch College their first losses of the season, notching 4-2 and 14-3 non-conference triumphs over the Bearcats (6-2) on Sunday at Rocco Torre Ballfield.

Hartwig finished 4-for-6 to extend her hitting streak to seven and the Bears (6-1) rang out 23 hits on the afternoon and never trailed. 

Game 1: St. Joseph's 4, Baruch 2

The Bears struck first with a solo run in the second after Bella Hurtado (San Diego, Calif./Olympian) knocked a leadoff single, stole second and scored on a one-out single by Isabella Calabrese (Smithtown, N.Y./Hauppauge). Baruch tied the game in the top of the third on a Julia Cuttrone double, before the Bears pieced a run with two-outs on a Arianna Heinsch (Brooklyn, N.Y./Fontbonne Hall Academy) single, stealing second to move into scoring position and coming home on the first of Hartwig's five RBI on the day.

SJC added two insurance runs in the fifth on a beautiful laid bunt by Heinsch who stole second again to set up Hartwig for another RBI. 

Baruch got one back in the top of the sixth, but Poppett struck out two more in a perfect seventh to close out her third complete-game victory of the season, improving to 3-0.

Hartwig, Heinsch, Calabrese, Hurtado all finished the opener 2-for-3. Hartwig collected two RBI. Heinsch scored twice, drove in a run, and stole a pair of bases. Hurtado knocked a double and scored once.

Game 2: St. Joseph's 14, Baruch 3 (5 inn)

Heinsch and Hartwig teamed up to produce a run in the first with Heinsch doubling and scoring on a Hartwig single.

The Bears broke the game open in the second with a big 12-run inning, 10 runs scoring with two outs as the Bearcats defense made five errors in the inning. Alexis Buchanan (Murrieta, Calif./Murrieta Valley) and Sofia Logreco (San Diego, Calif./Mission Hills) led off the frame with a single and double, and both scored on an Emily Burroughs (Escondido, Calif./San Pasqual) squeeze bunt. Hurtado, Trani, and Calabrese followed with three-straight, run-scoring hits to increase the lead to 7-0.

After a Bearcat pitching change, Burroughs drew a bases-loaded walk and later scored herself stealing home in a double-steal. Hartwig capped off the scoring with a two-run single to bring home Heinsch again and Hurtado to balloon the lead to 13-0.

Baruch got on the board and spoiled the shutout with a pair in the fourth, but the Bears got one back on a Trani two-out single in the bottom half. Baruch tried to assemble a late rally knocking three hits in the fifth but wasn't enough to extend the contest.

Allison Kaspar (Miller Place, N.Y./Rocky Point) went the distance in the circle and improved to 2-0. She struck out four, allowing seven hits with two of the three runs coming across earned.

Hartwig went 2-for-3 again, driving in three runs. Trani batted 2-for-4 with two RBI and a double. Buchanan went 2-for-3 with two runs scored. Heinsch scored three times, stole two bases, and knocked a double. Hurtado delivered two runs in a 1-for-2 effort with two walks. Gomez scored twice, stole two bases, drove in a run, and drew a walk. Burroughs collected two RBI, a run, a walk, a stolen base, and a sacrifice without an official at bat.

Next Up

The Bears are back in action tomorrow for a non-conference twinbill at Brooklyn College starting at 5 p.m.