Four-Run Eighth Inning Sees Softball Earn Split with Hunter

NEW YORK — In their third-straight extra-innings game, the St. Joseph's University, N.Y. (Brooklyn) used a four-run eighth inning – headlined by a two-RBI double from Isabella Calabrese (Smithtown, N.Y./Hauppauge) – to defeat Hunter College 5-2. Bears' starter Brooke Horn (Lakeside, Calif./El Capitan) pitched all eight innings, striking out nine Hawks to surpass her previous season-high in strikeouts (six vs. Western Connecticut State)

The second game of the non-conference doubleheader saw the Hawks claim a 2-1 result.

How it Happened (Game 1):

Following a Hunter run in the second inning, reigning Skyline Conference Player of the Week Maeve McKeon (Point Pleasant, N.J./Point Pleasant) brought in the tying run in the fourth. Both sides would each register a base hit over the next three and a half innings but were unable to break the stalemate.

A single off the bat of Audrey Scott (Rocklin, Calif./Whitney) with the bases loaded in the top of the eighth brought in the eventual winning run. That was followed up by Calabrese's two-RBI double to extend the Bears' lead to 4-1. Lauren Van Der Kamp's (Sacramento, Calif./Rosemont) sacrifice fly brought the advantage to 5-1. The Hawks added a run in the home half of the eighth but Horn was able to get all three outs to secure the Bears' win.

How it Happened (Game 2):

A run scored on Brianna Kilimet's (Valley Stream, N.Y./Sacred Heart Academy) groundout in the top of the second. However, the Hawks retaliated immediately with a pair of runs on a RBI two-bagger in the bottom half of the inning. The seventh saw the Bears attempt a comeback bid, courtesy of three hits in the stanza, but could not inflict further damage; falling 2-1.

For the Bears (Game 1):

• Seven Bears logged base-knocks with McKeon, Scott, and Calabrese all driving in runs.

• Calabrese and McKeon each hit doubles in the contest with the latter extending her hit streak to five.

For the Bears (Game 2):

• Nicole Trani (Staten Island, N.Y./Moore Catholic) and Sofia Logreco (San Diego, Calif./Mission Hills) each went 2-for-3 in the second game with doubles.

• Bella Gomez (Whittier, Calif./Sonora) stole the lone bag for either side in the contest.

• Leila Heller (Belle Chasse, La./Belle Chasse) struck out five Hawks in the losing effort.

Up Next

The Bears travel to the Flatbush neighborhood of Brooklyn to meet borough foes Brooklyn College on Friday, March 24 at 4 p.m. Live video will be available on sjbkathletics.com/live.