MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. – The Albertus Magnus College softball team opened up its annual spring break trip to the Palmetto State with a pair of non-conference victories against the Golden Eagles of Saint Joseph's College – Long Island and the Chargers of Lancaster Bible College on Sunday afternoon as part of the Fastpitch Dreams Spring Classic.
The Falcons kicked off the day with an impressive 7-1 win over the Golden Eagles behind a nine-hit, seven-RBI performance. In the nightcap, the Falcons were able to hold off the Chargers, 8-6, to conclude the day 2-0.
THE BASICS
Final (G1): Albertus Magnus 7 | St. Joseph – LI 1
Records: Albertus Magnus (1-0) | St. Joseph – LI (0-1)
Box Score
KEY HIGHLIGHTS
After four scoreless innings, Albertus struck first in the bottom of the fifth as Jess Stettinger (East Haven, Conn.) homered to left field driving in a pair of runs, giving the Falcons the late advantage, 2-0.
In the following inning, Albertus came alive at the plate scoring five runs on six hits while capitalizing on a Golden Eagle error to extend its lead to 7-0. With two outs and runners on the corners, Skylar Arent (New Fairfield, Conn.) doubled to right field, driving in two more runs before Madison LaBossiere (Griswold, Conn.) singled to left allowing Arent to cross home for the fifth run of the game. Breanna Saldivar (Middletown, Conn.) kept the momentum going for the Falcons as a single from the right-fielder drove in LaBossiere, extending the score to 6-0.
Following an error and a walk, Albertus loaded the bases for Ivy Geloso (Beacon Falls, Conn.), who singled to left field and drove in the Falcons' last run of the game before the final out was recorded at home.
KEY STATS
- Arent earned her first collegiate win in the circle for the Falcons.
- Arent finished the game allowing one run on nine hits while striking out five.
- Stettingers' home run in the fifth inning was her 11th of her career.
- Geloso and Peyton Davis (North Haven, Conn.) led the Falcons in hits with two each, while Geloso tallied one of the Falcons' seven RBIs.
- Along with Stettinger, Arent finished with a team-leading two RBIs.
THE BASICS
Final (G2): Albertus Magnus 8 | Lancaster Bible 6
Records: Albertus Magnus (2-0) | Lancaster Bible (0-2)
Box Score
KEY HIGHLIGHTS
Lancaster Bible opened the game scoring one run behind an RBI groundout in the top of the first to take the early lead. Shortly after, the Falcons answered back in the bottom half of the inning scoring two runs behind an RBI triple from Karissa Kerrs (Wappingers Falls, N.Y.) and a wild pitch that allowed Kerrs to score from third to take the one-run advantage, 2-1.
In the top of the second, Lancaster Bible even the game at 2-2 following an RBI single, but a pair of RBI singles from Celine Wood (Pawling, N.Y.) and Davis doubled the Falcons' lead, 4-2.
Albertus did not let up offensively as the Falcons scored an additional three runs in the bottom half of the third, increasing their lead to five, 7-2. However, Lancaster Bible threatened Albertus an inning later recording a three-run, three-hit inning to cut the deficit to within two, 7-5.
Two innings later, Lucielle Rodriguez (New Britain, Conn.) gave the Falcons a three-run cushion, 8-5, after she singled through the left side driving in Kerrs from third, who started off the inning with a single.
Solid defensive work from the Falcons kept the Chargers from scoring only one run in the top of the seventh to bring the final score to 8-6.
KEY STATS
- Erin Dighello (Wallingford, Conn.) made her first start in the circle for the Falcons as well as picked up her first win of the season.
- Dighello pitched 5.0 innings and struck out seven batters.
- Ema Signore picked up the save after relieving Arent in the seventh.
- Kerrs led the offensive attack with three hits, while Angelina Ramada (North Branford, Conn.), Colleen Edwards (Clinton, Conn.), and Wood recorded two hits apiece.
- Along with her two hits, Wood tallied a team-high two RBI.
UP NEXT
Albertus returns to the diamond on Monday, March 9 with a non-conference doubleheader against Medaille and Rutgers-Newark as part of the Fastpitch Dreams Classic. Game times are set for 9:30 AM and 11:30 AM.
