McKinnon Earns 400th Career Win as Softball Sweeps Doubleheader Against Bay Path

GAME ONE | USJ 2, BAY PATH 0

HOW IT HAPPENED

• After a scoreless first inning, USJ threatened in the bottom of the second, loading the bases, but was unable to push across a run to keep the game scoreless.
• Senior pitcher Paige Fekete (Watertown, Conn.) continued to stifle the Bay Path offense, allowing just three hits while striking out five through the first five innings.
• USJ broke through in the bottom of the fifth as freshman infielder Gracie Browne (Bristol, Conn.) laced a one-out triple down the left-field line and later scored on an infield single by senior outfielder Avianna Ibrahim (Colchester, Conn.) to give the Blue Jays a 1–0 lead.
• Two batters later, junior outfielder Rachel Brewer-Karimi (Torrington, Conn.) added an RBI single to bring home Ibrahim and extend the lead to 2–0.
• Fekete took it from there, finishing off the complete-game shutout to secure the 2–0 victory.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Six different Blue Jays recorded one hit.
• Brewer-Karimi and Ibrahim each drove in a run.
• Sophomore outfielder Lorynes Suriel (Lynn, Mass.) and Ibrahim each stole a base.
• Fekete earned the complete-game victory (6–4), tossing a three-hit shutout while striking out a season-high seven.

GAME TWO | USJ 11, BAY PATH 3 (FIVE INNINGS)

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Bay Path struck first in game two, scoring twice in the top of the first to take a 2–0 lead.
• USJ responded immediately, as sophomore infielder Gabby Marichal (Lynn, Mass.) delivered a three-RBI triple to the right-center gap to put the Blue Jays in front, 3–2.
• Two batters later, freshman infielder Gracie Browne (Bristol, Conn.) laid down a bunt that allowed Marichal to score, extending the lead to 4–2 after one inning.
• The Blue Jays added to their advantage in the second, as senior outfielder Kaitlyn Ouellette (Wolcott, Conn.) recorded an RBI double to make it 5–2. Marichal followed with an RBI groundout, plating Ouellette to push the lead to 6–2.
• USJ continued to build in the third, as Ouellette lined an RBI single up the middle before senior outfielder Madelyn Ellis (Newington, Conn.) drove in two with a double to left field, extending the lead to 9–2.
• Bay Path answered with a run in the top of the fourth to cut the deficit to 9–3.
• The Blue Jays sealed the win in the fifth, as Ellis delivered an RBI triple and later scored on an RBI single by sophomore infielder Kayla Phelps (Wolcott, Conn.), securing the 11–3 run-rule victory and the doubleheader sweep.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Antonowicz, Brewer-Karimi, Ouellette, Ellis and Browne each recorded two hits.
• Marichal led the offense with four RBI, while Ellis drove in three and Ouellette added two.
• Phelps drew a team-high two walks.
• Ouellette earned the complete-game win (3–1), allowing three runs on two hits while striking out five.

UP NEXT

The Blue Jays continue an eight-game homestand with a non-conference doubleheader against Purchase College on Friday, April 3. First pitch against the Panthers at the USJ Softball Field is set for noon.

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