Softball Wraps Up Gaucho Classic Sunday Afternoon

Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 SANTA BARBARA, CA - Saint Peter's University softball finished its opening weekend of play on Sunday (March 1), following games against Bradley and host UC Santa Barbara in the Gaucho Classic. The first game of the day brought a 12-0 defeat to the Braves, followed by a 7-1 loss to the Gauchos. Freshman Brandi Feeney finished the tournament with the Peacocks' first home run of the year, sending a solo shot to center field in the Peacocks' final game of the weekend against UCSB.
 
Against the Braves:

• Freshman Sophie Wilson started the day on the mound for the Peacocks, ultimately handing the ball off to Taylor Rondon and then Kristen Brennan to finish off the game for Saint Peter's.
• Four Peacocks recorded hits against the Braves, including Courtney Fraher, Alina Guevara, Alyssa Mido, and Olyvia Smith.
• The game would end in the fifth inning Saturday afternoon, as the Braves had gained an advantage of at least eight runs through the five innings.

Against the Gauchos:

• Sophomore Sydney Senerchia earned her first start of the season against UCSB on Sunday, throwing for the first four innings against the Gauchos. Taylor Lewis and Taylor Rondon would then come on later in the game to split the fifth and sixth innings, respectively.
• The game featured another four-hit performance by Saint Peter's, with hits coming from Guevara, Brandi Feeney, Cara McNulty, and Katie Sciglimpaglia. 
• As the Peacocks dropped to a 5-0 deficit after the fifth inning, Saint Peter's refused to give up, as Feeney sent a shot into deep center during the top of the sixth inning for a Peacock home run.

Inside the Numbers:

• Feeney finishes as the only Peacock to have recorded a home run on the weekend, hitting the bomb in just her fifth collegiate at-bat.
• Guevara was the only Saint Peter's player to finish with at least one hit in both games on Sunday, going 1-for-1 against Bradley and hitting 1-of-3 against UCSB.
• The Braves' 12 runs came in the third and fifth innings of Sunday's game, while Wilson managed to keep Bradley scoreless through the first two innings.

Coach's Quote - Chris Stelma:

• "We wrapped up a nice trip on the West Coast. As a team we have a lot of positives to build on."
• "Our pitching staff did a fantastic job providing both quality starts as well as good bullpen transitions."
• "We played some very tough competition and battled the whole way. We are excited to begin our season and have a lot of positive to build on. We are a good team with a team first mentality." 

Up Next:

• The Peacocks return to the East Coast this week as they prepare for a double-header at Maryland Eastern Shore on March 4. The games against the Hawks are set to begin at 2:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m.