NEW HAVEN, Conn. - Behind stellar pitching and a big offensive second inning, the Albertus Magnus College softball team won its Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) play-in game over the University of Saint Joseph (Conn.), 3-1 on Tuesday afternoon at the Shea Softball Complex.

The Falcons, seeded fourth in the South Division, got stellar pitching from Annabelle Jabs (East Hartland, Conn.), who pitched six innings, giving up just one earned run on four hits and striking out six. Ema Signore put her name in the Albertus Magnus record books, earning her sixth career save as she struck out the side in the top of the seventh. The save made her the all-time leader in Albertus Magnus College history.

At the plate, an RBI double from Amanda Savinelli (New Haven, Conn.) and a two-run triple by Skylar Arent (Ridgefield, Conn.) gave the Falcons enough offensive to secure the win.

Albertus will now face Lasell on the road on Thursday, May 2 at 2 p.m. in the GNAC Tournament in the double elimination portion of the tournament. Lasell is the the top seed in the South Division. 

THE BASICS

FINAL: Albertus Magnus 3 | University of Saint Joseph (Conn.) 1

RECORDS: Albertus Magnus 22-18 | University of Saint Joseph (Conn.) 16-23

BOX

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Both teams had runners in scoring position in the first inning as USJ led off the game with a double from Emma Carpenter before Jabs retired the next three batters. Albertus opened its half of the first with a walk to Arent and a single by Hailey Laforte (Branford, Conn.) to put runners on first and second with one out. However, a line out and a strikeout ended the threat.
• Jabs retired the Blue Jays in order in the second inning, including two strikeouts and the Albertus offense rewarded her with three runs in the bottom of the inning. Colleen Edwards (Clinton, Conn.) started the inning with a single. Three batters later and with two outs in the inning, Savinelli ripped a double to left-center to put Albertus on the board. Paige Scheid (Cedar Grove, N.J.) followed with a single and stole second. With runners on second and third, Arent nailed a pitch to deep right-center field, scoring two runs to give Albertus a 3-0 lead. 
• The Blue Jays got on the board with an RBI single by Alyssa Roberts, but she was stranded at second.
• Jabs struckout two more batters in the fifth as both teams went in order in the inning. 
• In the sixth, USJ threatened again as it had runners on first and second. With Roberts at the plate she hit a ball to right field. Amelia Boulli fielded the ball on a hop and gunned the ball to catcher Erin Molkenthin who tagged Alexis Volinsky for the third out and preserved the two-run lead.
• Signore came into the game during the top of the sixth and struckout all three batters she faced. Her sixth career save broke the previous record of five held by Megan Ferraro.

ON THE MOUND

Albertus

• Annabelle Jabs (W, 8-8) 6.0 IP | 1 Run | 1 ER | 4 Hits | 1 BB | 6 K
• Ema Signore (Sv, 3) 1.0 IP | 0 Runs | 0 ER | 0 Hits | 0 BB | 3 K

USJ

Paige Fekete (L, 6-10) 6.0 IP | 3 Runs | 3 ER | 7 Hits | 4 BB | 5 K

AT THE PLATE

Albertus

• Paige Scheid 2-for-4 | 1 Run 
• Skylar Arent 1-for-2 | 1 3B | 2 BB | 2 RBI
• Amanda Savinelli 1-for-2 | 1 2B | 1 Run | 1 RBI

USJ

• Alyssa Roberts 2-for-3 | 1 RBI

NOTEWORTHY

• It is the ninth straight season the Falcons have qualified for the GNAC tournament.
• Albertus swept the three games against USJ and have won six of the last seven games. 
• The six strikeouts were tied for the second most by Jabs this season.