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Softball Begins Quest For Third GNAC Title at Lasell During GNAC First Round
Posted: May 01, 2023

Softball Begins Quest For Third GNAC Title at Lasell During GNAC First Round

NEWTON, Mass.— The South Division four seed University of Saint Joseph (USJ) softball team begins its quest for a third Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) championship, traveling to face South Division three seed Lasell University (Lasell), in the GNAC First Round on Tuesday, May 2. First pitch against the Lasers is set for 4:00 p.m. on Taylor Field in Newton, Mass.

 
#4S USJ BLUE JAYS (22-17) at #3S LASELL LASERS (24-14-1) 
LOCATION: Taylor Field (Newton, Mass.) 
DATE/TIME: Tuesday, May 2 (4:00 p.m.)
LIVE STATS: Live Stats 
TWITTER: @USJ_BlueJays | #FearTheFlock | #GoBlueJays 
 
USJ QUICK HITS 

  • USJ earned the four seed in the South Division after posting a record of 22-17 overall and a 6-6 mark in GNAC divisional play.
  • Postseason run
  • The Blue Jays are paced by sophomore two-way standout Alyssa Roberts (Naugatuck, Conn.). Roberts, who transferred to USJ this season, leads the GNAC with a .519 batting average and a .562 on base percentage, while ranking second in doubles (12), third in hits (56) and fourth in slugging percentage (.676).
  • She has also made 18 appearances inside the circle for USJ, making 15 starts and posted a 9-7 record. She has tallied a 3.71 ERA, the 15th best in the league, 85 strikeouts, the seventh most in the league, which equates to 6.44 strikeouts per game, the fourth best mark in the conference.
  • Sophomore shortstop Jenna Zup (Berlin, Conn.) has been the anchor of the USJ infield, starting 33 games for USJ, all at shortstop.
  • Zup has recorded a .404 batting average, the 11th best mark in the league, a .470 on-base percentage, the seventh best in the GNAC, and a .606 slugging percentage, the ninth highest in the conference. Zup also sports a league leading six triples, while posting a .949 fielding percentage, tallying 56 putouts and 56 assists, the seventh most in the league.
  • Senior Jenna Masiello (hometown), junior Isabel Milardo (hometown, and freshman McKenzie Fairfax (hometown) form a formidable trio in the outfield for USJ.
  • Fairfax boasts a .360 batting average with 27 hits and seven stolen bases, while Milardo has tallied a .336 batting average, 39 hits, six doubles and eight stolen bases. Masiello has been just as impressive, boasting a .326 batting average with 31 hits, five doubles and 20 RBI.
  • The Blue Jays are looking for their third GNAC Title in program history, clinching the Championship in 2019 and 2000.

SCOUTING LASELL

  • Lasell received the third seed in the South Division after posting a 24-14-1 record overall with an 8-4 mark in GNAC South Division play.
  • The Lasers are making their seventh appearance in the GNAC postseason but have never advanced past the opening round.
  • Graduate student Brianna Gendreau (Warren, R.I.) and junior Katie Hopkins (Garden City Park, N.Y.) pace the Lasers at the plate. Hopkins leads the team with a .429 batting average, the fourth best in the league, while Gendreau sports a .420 batting average, the sixth best in the conference. The duo have combined for 111 hits, 18 doubles, three triples, three home runs, 55 runs and 46 RBI.
  • The Lasers pitching staff is paced by junior ace Eryn Sheeley (North Haven, Conn.). Sheeley has made 20 appearances in the circle, earning 16 starts and posting an 11-6 record. The junior has been a strikeout machine, leading the GNAC with 156 strikeouts while sporting a 3.06 ERA.
  • The Lasers are one of the best hitting teams in the conference, ranking second in the GNAC with 348 total hits and third with a .318 team batting average.
  • Lasell have also made it difficult for opposing offenses, limiting opposing batters to a .270 batting average, the third best mark in the conference.

INSIDE THE SERIES 

  • Tuesday marks the 33rd meeting between the Blue Jays and Lasers since Lasell joined the GNAC ahead of the 2007-08 academic year.
  • USJ have had the upper hand since then, sporting a 22-10 edge in the series.
  • Earlier this season, the Lasers swept the Blue Jays in a doubleheader.
  • The two teams have met only once in postseason play, as USJ defeated Lasell, 5-2, in the opening round of the 2008 GNAC Tournament.

UP NEXT 
With a victory, the Blue Jays would advance to the double-elimination portion of the GNAC Playoffs, facing south-division second seed Albertus Magnus on Thursday, May 4. The matchup against the Falcons would take place at the Scotts Miracle-Gro Athletics Complex on the campus of Johnson & Wales University in Providence, R.I., as the Wildcats will serve as the host site for the remainder of the playoffs due to being the top seed in the division.

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