Purple Knights Pick Up A Saturday Sweep To Complete Softball's Spring Trip

Clermont, Fla.-The University of Bridgeport softball team closed out its Spring Break action in Florida in fine style on Saturday picking up a pair of wins to head back home with a 5-10 overall record, as the Purple Knights defeated West Virginia Wesleyan, 8-2, and topped Glenville State, 8-0, in five innings to close out the day and the trip.

In Saturday's opener versus West Virginia Wesleyan, the Purple Knights trailed 1-0 after the top of the third but quickly responded with four runs in the bottom of the frame and never looked back on their way to the 8-1 victory.

Sophomore Madison D'Amato (Warwick, R.I.) led the Bridgeport offense in Saturday's opening game with three hits, two runs batted in and two runs scored.

Junior Grace Derita (Middletown, Conn.) also had two hits against West Virginia Wesleyan, and Gabby Simms (Grad., Phoenixville, Pa.) also added two hits and pair of RBI.

In the pitching circle, Vise Zarate (Fr., Cypress, Calif.) had another strong performance to even her season record at 3-3 working a complete game in which she allowed six hits with three strike outs over her seven innings of work.

Against Glenville State, the Purple Knights banged out 12 hits on offense, and in the circle, senior Samantha Schiebe (Monroe, Conn.) fired a four-hit shutout versus the Pioneers, plus she helped her cause with three runs batted in.

Gabby Simms had another strong game at the plate in Saturday's nightcap with collecting two more hits and driving in three runs, plus Grace Derita and Hailey Kim (Jr., Virginia Beach, Va.), each had three hits to close out the Spring Trip.

Up next, the Purple Knights are scheduled to play their 2023 home opener on Thursday, March 16 versus Southern New Hampshire.  Doubleheader action in Seaside Park is slated to begin at 2:30 p.m.