Blue Jays Stifle Wildcats

LONGMEADOW, Mass.—The Wildcats of Bay Path are stifled by the Blue Jays of St. Joseph (Conn.) in the 2010 softball home opener falling 4-2 in the first game and 13-2 in the five inning nightcap today at Farmlea Field in NCAA Division III softball action.

The Wildcats were lead by junior outfielder Katie Begin (Weare, N.H.) who batted .833 for the day. She went 6-for-7 including a triple and one run. Begin slugged 1.167 notching seven total bases. Senior lefty Jessica Nizinski (West Springfield, Mass.) was the only other Wildcat to notch multiple hits on the double header. Nizinski went 3-for-5 with a .600 average.

Senior shortstop Sarah Gates (Crown Point, Ind.) playing in only game two due to class commitments went 3-for-3 with two RBI and one stolen base.

In game one, both pitchers waged a stalemate until the top of the fourth when St. Joseph struck first scoring two runs. Senior infielder Jackie Peck (Montville, Conn.) began the surge doubling to centerfield. Freshman infielder Bryanna Durant (Middletown, Conn.) launched a shot up the middle to bring Peck home. Durant would use her speed to steal second and third placing her in scoring position for the Blue Jays. Fellow freshman infielder Kelly Balanca (West Haven, Conn.) notched the RBI.

Bay Path would answer back in the bottom of the fifth knotting the game. Sophomore outfielder Vanessa Chaplin (Attleboro, Mass.) led off nailing a double shot to deep centerfield. Sophomore catcher Kellie Lastowski (Turners Falls, Mass.) followed with another double. Lastowkski would take advantage of some misplayed throws to round all four bases and notch two RBI.

Unfortunately, the Blue jays would answer the call and score the final two runs in the top of the six. Peck and freshman infielder Emily Hummel (Hebron, Conn.) would each score off of Durant and junior outfielder April Campanella (Berlin, Conn.).

Kristen Parente (Burlington, Conn.) went 6.0 innings for the win allowing two runs on six hits. She gave up one walk and fanned three for the day. Freshman Saige Dupont (Brooklyn, Conn.) closed the game facing four batters giving up one hit. Suffering the loss was Nizinski (2-3) allowing only three earned runs on nine hits.

Game two was called in five innings due to the eight run mercy rule. Three Blue Jays produced multiple hits including the catcher Ashley Ryan (Waterbury, Conn.) who went 3-for-4 with one run and one RBI. Hummel and junior Susie Waters (Wrentham, Mass.) each added two hits apiece. The pitcher Hummel also added two runs.

Hummel picked up the win allowing only two runs on eight hits, while striking out seven batters. NECC Pitcher of the Week, freshman Ashley Provost (Ludlow, Mass.) suffered the loss now 2-2 on the season. She gave up 13 runs, nine of which were earned. She had two strike-outs and five walks.

Bay Path is now 4-6 on the season, while St. Joseph is 6-7 overall. Bay Path will be on the road Saturday, March 27th facing Green Mountain in Vermont.

 GAME ONE:

Saint Joseph 4, Bay Path College 2 (03/24/10 at Longmeadow, Mass.) (Game 1)

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Saint Joseph........ 000 202 0 -  4  9  4      (6-6)

E - Waters; Peck 2; Campanella; Safron, Sara. DP - Blue Jays 1; Bay Path 1. LOB -

Blue Jays 7; Bay Path 7. 2B - Bush; Hummel; Peck; Chaplin, Van; Lastowski, K. SH -Valerio; Balanca; Provost, Ash 2; Begin, Katie; Evans, Emily. SB - Bush; Peck;

Durant 2.

Pitchers: Saint Joseph - Kristin Parente; Saige Dupont(7) and Heather Tworzydlo.

Catchers: Saint Joseph-Heather Tworzydlo, Bay Path- Kelli Lastowski.

Bay Path College - Nizinski, Je and Lastowski, K.

Win-Kristin Parente(1-0)  Loss-Nizinski, Je(2-3)  T-5:00 pm  A-47

Weather: Nice, windy

Game: BPS09

GAME TWO:

Saint Joseph 13, Bay Path College 2 (03/24/10 at Longmeadow, Mass.) (Game 2)

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Saint Joseph........ 416 11 - 13 13  0      (6-7)

E - Gates, Sarah; Evans, Emily. DP - Blue Jays 1. LOB - Blue Jays 10; Bay Path 5. 2B- Valerio; Hummel. 3B - Begin, Katie. SH - Bush. SB - Valerio; Hummel; Tisdell;

Gates, Sarah.

Pitchers: Saint Joseph - Emily Hummel Bay Path College - Provost, Ashley

Catchers: Saint Joseph-Ashley Ryan, Bay Path- Jess Prisetly.

Win-Emily Hummel(1-0) Loss-Provost (2-2)  T-7:00 pm  A47

Weather: Nice, chilly

Game: BPS10