Softball’s Comeback Bid for Doubleheader Split Comes Up Short Against Mount Saint Mary

BROOKVILLE, N.Y. — Despite Alexis Buchanan's (Murrieta, Calif./Murrieta Valley) 4-for-7 day with three doubles and a pair of RBI, and three RBI from Lauren Van Der Kamp (Sacramento, Calif./Rosemont) on Monday afternoon, the St. Joseph's College (Brooklyn) softball team lost both ends of their twin bill with Mount Saint Mary College from the LIU Softball Complex on the campus of LIU Post.

A three-run second inning for the Bears (9-4, 0-2) in the opening game was not enough as the Knights (4-9, 3-1) scored six runs in the later innings to take a 7-3 triumph. In game two, SJC climbed out of a pair of six-run holes thanks to Buchanan's and Van Der Kamp's efforts trimming it to two with a three-run seventh. Sierra Bedrin (Rocklin, Calif./Whitney) also had a multi-hit game in the nightcap. Ultimately, MSMC halted the Bears' efforts to earn the 9-7 win and series sweep.

The doubleheader opened the Bears' 2022 Skyline Conference slate.

How it Happened, Game 1

Following an uneventful first inning, the visitors scored a run in their half of the second courtesy of an RBI double off the left-field fence. In the bottom half, a trio of Bears doubles brought Nicole Trani (Staten Island, N.Y./Moore Catholic) and Buchanan home; giving the navy and gray a 2-1 lead. Brianna Kilimet (Valley Stream, N.Y./Sacred Heart Academy) added to the Bears' lead with an RBI double of her own.

While the Knights were kept off the board in the third, they came to within one in the fourth. MSMC retook the lead, 4-3, thanks to a two-RBI single from Jenna Cedeno with the bases loaded; adding a fifth before the end of the inning and a pair in the sixth to come away with the 7-3 game one win.

Game 2

Neither side broke the scoreless deadlock after four innings. The fifth saw the Knights plate six runs, as singles from Riley Norwood and Sofia Gannon resulted in four RBI. The Bears, however, slashed the deficit in half in their half of the fifth.

Arianna Heinsch's (Brooklyn, N.Y./Fontbonne Hall Academy) bunt single got SJC on the board. A double to center off the bat of Bedrin brought in Tayler Faraguna (San Diego, Calif./San Pasqual) before Heinsch scored on Van Der Kamp's sacrifice bunt, ending the frame down 6-3.

Mount Saint Mary restored their six-run advantage in the sixth thanks to Gannon's three-run homer on the first pitch of the at-bat. The Bears, once again, chipped at the Knights' lead as Sofia Logreco (San Diego Calif./Mission Hills) took advantage of a throwing error by the left fielder and scored,  9-4.

After the visitors went down in order in the top of the seventh, the navy and gray mounted a comeback in the seventh. Heinsch and Bedrin reached on an error and single to begin the inning, setting up Van Der Kamp's bases-clearing double to right-center brought the Bears to within three, 9-6. Following an MSMC pitching change, the rookie scored on Buchanan's first-pitch single. Buchanan ultimately reached third before the Knights recorded the contest's final three outs and a 9-7 win.

For the Bears (Game 1)

• Both Buchanan and Logreco went 2-for-3 with a run scored and an RBI.

• Buchanan and Bella Gomez (Whittier, Calif./Sonora) each stole a base.

• Five of the team's seven hits were two-baggers.

• In 5.2 innings, Autumn Poppett (San Diego Calif./Mission Hills) fanned four and allowed three earned runs. The sophomore took the loss (4-1).

• Bedrin stuck out two and gave up a hit in 1.1 innings of relief.

For the Bears (Game 2)

• Van Der Kamp's three RBI fell one short of matching a season-high.

• Buchanan and Bedrin finished 2-for-4 with a double and RBI. Bedrin also scored a run.

• Heinsch scored a pair of runs as she went 1-for-3 with an RBI.

• Gomez also went 1-for-3 and scored a run.

• Jessica Mecham (West Jordan, Utah/Copper Hills) was dealt the loss (1-2) as she went 4.1 innings in the circle.

• Allison Kaspar (Miller Place, N.Y./Rocky Point) struck out a trio of Knights in 2.2 innings.

Up Next

SJC will look to bounce back on Thursday, April 7 in a pair of non-conference games at Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham. The doubleheader begins at 3 p.m. with live stats available on sjcbears.com/live.