CSJ finishes season at sixth in the nation

Courtesy of CSJ

Alana Todd takes a swing for College of St. Joseph at a recent softball tournament. The team finished 6th in the nation.

RUTLAND — College of St. Joseph softball finished the season sixth in the nation following their United States Collegiate Athletic Association National Tournament run May 16-18.

The Lady Saints earned their first win of the National Tournament against Maine – Presque Isle May 16. The Lady Saints took an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning with a run by Jacqueline Rossi on a single by Sierra Jaeger, and were able to keep Maine scoreless through the next four and a half innings.

The Lady Saints earned their second run in the top of the sixth when Jenna Crowley singled to center field, scoring Krysta Konderwich. Despite having the last at bat, UMPI was unable to even the game, falling 2-0 and moving into the consolation bracket.

CSJ tallied 10 hits during the matchup while committing no errors. The team was led by Rossi and Karlee Moore, who each had two hits in the game. Jaeger and Crowley were each credited with an RBI. Maggie Miller pitched a complete game for the Lady Saints, facing 21 batters and giving up just two hits.

The Lady Saints advanced in the winners’ bracket, facing Saint Mary-of-the-Woods May 17. CSJ wasn’t as lucky in this matchup, falling 9-1 against the tournament’s No. 1 seed. Saint Mary-of-the-Woods jumped out to a 3-0 lead after the first three batters and never looked back, defeating CSJ in six innings of play. Emma Riffe walked to lead the game before Saint Mary earned back-to-back home runs, giving them the advantage. The Pomeroys would add two more runs in the second, and a sixth run in the fourth inning.

The Lady Saints were unable to get a run until the sixth inning, when Allison Hinton scored on sacrifice fly from Jaeger. The Pomeroys would add another three runs in the sixth inning.Hinton, Miller, and Moore recorded the only hits in the contest for CSJ. Crowley took the mound for the Saints, with Miller facing seven batters in relief.

College of St. Joseph moved into the consolation bracket, facing Yankee Small College Conference foe NHTI on May 17. The team came up short once again, losing 8-0 against the Lynx. Rossi, Emily Johnson, Miller, Moore, and Alana Todd earned the Lady Saints seven hits. Miller faced 23 batters on the mound for the CSJ, with Crowley pitching in relief.

The Lady Saints faced Penn State – Hazleton on May 18 for the tournament’s fifth place finish. CSJ was unable to come back following a rough two days of play, falling 2-1.

CSJ softball finishes the season 24-17 overall.