Softball Splits ECC Doubleheader At St. Thomas Aquinas

Sparkill, N.Y.-The University of Bridgeport softball team split an East Coast Conference road doubleheader versus St. Thomas Aquinas on Friday afternoon. The visiting Purple Knights took game one, 6-3, and host STAC come back to earn the split by winning a 1-0 pitchers' duel in the nightcap.  UB is now 13-10 overall and 2-2 in conference play.  St. Thomas Aquinas is an even 11-11 overall and 3-3 in the ECC.

In the opener, senior Meghan O'Leary (Lafayette, N.J.) led the Bridgeport offense with three hits, including a three-run, first inning home run and a double to lead-off the sixth and start a two-run inning after the host Lady Spartans had tied the game at 3-3 in the bottom of the fifth.  The Purple Knights broke the tie scoring on a STAC error and a steal of home by sophomore Kamryn Beach (Tampa, Fla.).

Freshman Allison Luzzi (East Haven, Conn.) added an insurance run for UB with a solo home run in the seventh.

Junior Gabryelle Dubois (Carlisle, Iowa) had two hits for the winners in game one. 

Senior Alyssa Bua (Cornwall, N.Y.) earned her sixth win of 2017 in the opener pitching a complete game, nine-hitter in which she fanned six and walked two batters.

In game two, junior Amanda Staheli (Pecatonica, Ill.), making only her second start of the season, was the hard-luck loser in the circle, as she took a no-hitter into the bottom of the fifth inning before STAC's Amanda Schweitzer led off the frame with a solo homer for the only run of the contest.  Staheli pitched a complete game two-hitter in which she struck out four and did not allow a base on balls.

Gabryelle Dubois had two hits for Purple Knights in game two to give her a total of four base knocks in the doubleheader.

Up next, the UB softball team will finally play its 2017 home opener versus NYIT on Sunday afternoon in Seaside Park.  Action is slated to begin at 1:00 p.m., and Sunday is also Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Day.