Softball Opens Conference Play With Home Sweep Of St. Thomas Aquinas

Bridgeport, Conn.-The University of Bridgeport softball team got its 2014 East Coast Conference schedule started in fine style on a chilly Tuesday afternoon in the Park City, as the Purple Knights swept a home doubleheader from the visiting St. Thomas Aquinas College Spartans winning game one, 5-4, and completing the sweep with a 10-4 victory in game two.  UB is now 7-1 overall and 2-0 in conference play.  STAC slips to 1-11 overall and 0-2 in the ECC.

In game one, junior Katelyn Wall (Madison, Conn.) led the Bridgeport offensive attack going 2-for-3 at the plate with two doubles and two runs batted in.  Senior Mallory Streat (Guilford, Conn.), junior Jessica Griesinger (Brewster, N.Y.) and freshman Imane Alou Issa (Berchem, Belgium) drove in the Purple Knights' other runs.

Freshman Alyssa Bua (Cornwall, N.Y.) picked up her first college win in the pitching circle in game one working 3.1 innings of relief in which she allowed only one unearned run.  Senior Tiffany Irrera (Brooklyn, N.Y.) picked up her second save of the season in the opener working 2.1 perfect innings in which she struck out five.

In the nightcap, Bridgeport banged out 14 hits on the way to the 10-4 win.

With the game tied at 3-3 in the bottom of the fourth inning, freshman Meghan O'Leary (Lafayette, N.J.) stoked a pinch hit RI single that gave her team a lead which they never relinquished.

Katelyn Wall again was a force at the plate in game two going 3-for-4, giving her a 5-for-7 day at the dish, blasting a two-run homer and scoring two runs.  Mallory Streat, Jessica Griesinger and Imane Alou Issa each had two hits for the winners in game two.

As in game one, Alyssa Bua was credited with the win and Tiffany Irrera earned the save.

The UB softball team will continue its homestand on Thursday afternoon when the Purple Knights host NYIT in an ECC doubleheader that will begin at 2:30 p.m.