GAME ONE: MAINE

After dropping both games yesterday, Quinnipiac came back late to stun the visiting Maine Black Bears 3-2 on Sunday.

Maine’s freshman pitcher Alexandra Gruitch was the star of the show to start, pitching 5.1 innings. 

In the second inning, Maine junior infielder Jasmine Gray scored the game’s first run on a sac fly by senior utility player Grace McGouldrick, her second of the year.

Sophomore pitcher Tori McGraw started the game for the Bobcats, her first of the season, allowing two hits and one run in two innings of work.

Poor base running in the first two frames proved costly for the Bobcats, as a fielder’s choice and a stolen base attempt thwarted Quinnipiac’s offense. 

The rest of the game flew by, and for the spectators that was a good thing, as the game hit a low of 28 degrees. Bobcats first-year pitcher Jaclyn Gonzalez came into relief in the third and shut down the Black Bears offense through the sixth. In fact, both teams were ice-cold in the hitting department today, mustering nine hits combined.

In the bottom of the sixth, two costly errors by McGouldrick and Gray allowed Quinnipiac to climb onto the scoreboard and even the game at two. The Bobcats then took their first lead of the game after a fielder’s choice at first base. They held on for the 3-2 win over Maine.

Gonzalez was credited with the win, her first collegiate victory, improving her record to 1-8. Junior pitcher Caitlyn Fallon came into the circle for the Black Bears and was charged with her seventh loss of the season.

Freshman pitcher Sydney Horan slammed the door shut for the Bobcats, retiring the Black Bears 1-2-3, including a strikeout, en route to her first career save.

The win allows Quinnipiac to improve to 4-13, snapping a four-game losing streak. For context, the Bobcats were 1-7 at this time last season. Maine falls to 4-20 after losing to Quinnipiac for the fifth time in program history.

The Bobcats will now complete their weekend round-robin later today against Hartford at 3:30 p.m. After today, they will travel to New Britain to face off against CCSU Wednesday, March 30.

GAME TWO: HARTFORD

After a thrilling 3-2 victory over Maine in their first game of the day, the Quinnipiac Bobcats Softball team fell to the Hartford Hawks 4-0 in a Sunday matinee at the Quinnipiac Softball Field in Hamden, CT.

Tori McGraw got the start for the Bobcats and Julianna Kocenski took the mound for the Hawks. After a scoreless first inning, Hartford got on the board first as Kocenski lined a base hit into the outfield to drive home Olivia Wolk who doubled earlier in the inning.

The Bobcats looked to answer in the bottom half of the second, as they loaded the bases courtesy of a double from California native Kayla Thomas, a walk by junior outfielder Serena Fogg and a single by outfielder Karolyn Walker. Kocenski got out of the jam by enducing a flyout from Cy Gonzalez, keeping the Hawks in front 1-0.

Hartford added onto their lead in the top of the third as senior Emma Curry drove in two runs with a single. Michigan native Mara Sczecienski followed with a RBI double, giving the Hawks a 4-0 cushion, and forcing McGraw out of the game.

Jaclyn Gonzalez pitched the rest of the game for the Bobcats and allowed just one hit and struck out four over 4.1 innings pitched.

But the afternoon belonged to Kocenski as she went the distance for Hartford. The senior allowed five hits and one walk while striking out six. Kocenski earned her fifth win of the season and lowered her ERA to an impressive 2.16.

The Bobcats will look to bounce back on Wednesday, March 30 as they travel to New Britain, CT to take on the CCSU Blue Devils.