NEW ROCHELLE, NY – The College of New Rochelle softball team took the five-time defending HVIAC Champion St. Joseph’s College-Brooklyn to the brink in the conference game Wednesday night at Flowers Park, scoring the most runs against the Lady Bears in the history of the series between the two teams.
After being retired in order in each of the first two innings, while St. Joseph’s built a 3-0 lead, the Blue Angels mounted a rally in the bottom of the third in the front end of the scheduled double header. Loading the bases with two outs, rookie Kevona Jackson blasted a grand slam home run to center field, clearing the bases and giving CNR a 4-3 lead.
The Lady Bears answered with three of their own in the top of the fourth to regain the lead, 6-4. But the Blue Angels again had a response, as a Caitlin Harrison RBI single, a two-RBI single by Jah-Leah Ellis and a RBI walk by Sheila Conde plated four runs and provided CNR with an 8-6 lead. The offensive outburst chased the St. Joe’s starter and forced the Lady Bears to bring in a relief pitcher to stem the tide.
Unfortunately for the Blue Angels, the reliever quieted the CNR bats, allowing no hits over the final three innings while the Lady Bears scored three times in the fifth and once more in the seventh to allow St. Joe’s to escape with a 10-8 win. The eight runs scored were the most for the Blue Angels in the history of the series with the Lady Bears, which dates back to 2003 and spans over 30 meetings.
In the nightcap, St. Joe’s allowed just four Blue Angels to reach base and cruised to a 14-0 win in five innings. Ellis, Rita Saad, and Jackson each had one hit for CNR.
The Blue Angels are back in action on Sunday, April 19, traveling to Chestnut Hill, MA to take on Pine Manor College in a doubleheader scheduled for a 11:00 AM first pitch.