Bridgeport Softball Splits A Conference Road Pair With Georgian Court

Lakewood, N.J.-The University of Bridgeport softball team split a Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference road doubleheader against the host Georgian Court University Lions on Wednesday afternoon in New Jersey winning game one, 6-4 in eight innings, and falling in the nightcap, 11-3 in six innings.  With the spilt, UB is now 20-17 overall and 10-6 in the CACC.  GCU moves to 22-14 overall and 6-4 in conference action.

In game one, Bridgeport raced out to a 3-0 lead only to find themselves trailing 4-3 heading into the top of the seventh inning only to have senior Taylor Yates (Elk Grove, Calif.) send the game into extra innings when she launched her second home run of the season down the left field line.

In the top of the eighth, the Purple Knights got right to work when junior Grace Derita (Middletown, Conn.) opened the frame with a double, her third hit of the game, and then she was moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by Kalea Faulk (So., Corning, N.Y.).  Junior Hailey Kim (Virginia Beach, Va.) then knocked in what proved to be the game-winning run in the opener with an infield single.  Kim would then move to third on a double by Madison D'Amato (So., Warwick, R.I.),  who had three hits and an RBI in game one, and Hailey scored on a sacrifice fly by Gabby Simms (Grad., Phoenixville, Pa.) to give Bridgeport an insurance run.  Simms also had three hits in game one for the winners.

Freshman Vise Zarate (Cypress, Calf.) would then shut down the Lions in the bottom of the eighth to finish her complete game in the pitching circle and raise her season mark to 13-6.

In game two, Hailey Kim added two more hits plus a run batted in, and senior Meg McFarland (Monroe, Conn.) also had a pair of base hits.

The Purple Knights also got runs batted in the nightcap from Madison D'Amato and senior Missy Daigneault (Rensselear, N.Y.)

Up next, the UB softball team is back in action in Seaside Park on Saturday afternoon when the Purple Knights host Holy Family University at 12 noon for a conference doubleheader.

PHOTO BY CLARUS MULTIMEDIA