JERSEY CITY, N.J. (May 3, 2022) - Behind clutch two out doubles from Samantha Miller and Olyvia Smith and a strong complete-game shutout effort in the circle by Nicole Antuna, the Saint Peter's Peacocks softball team picked up a 5-0 victory over Howard University before dropping game two 5-1 Tuesday in their final non-conference contest of the regular season.
Scores: Saint Peter's 5, Howard 0 | Howard 5, Saint Peter's 1
Records: Saint Peter's (19-30) | Howard (27-21)
Pitchers (G1): W - Nicole Antuna (5-3) L - Mia Gonzalez (4-5)
Pitchers (G2): W - Analise De La Roche (13-6) L - Sydney Senerchia (4-5)
Top Performers
- Antuna was brilliant in game one as she scattered just five hits across 7.0 innings in the circle with a strikeout to earn her second career complete game shutout.
- Smith had a strong effort at the plate on the day for the Peacocks, going 2 for 3 with three RBIs in game one and 1 for 2 with a walk in the second contest.
- Miller came up with two more clutch hits as she drove in a pair with an RBI double in game one and hit her first career home run over the wall in center field in game two.
- Kourtney Ketcham also was strong at the plate, combining to go 2 for 3 with a walk and a run scored in the doubleheader.
How it Happened (Game One)
- The Peacocks struck first in game one with a three-run frame as they rallied with two outs in the second.
- After Maiah Skakal was hit by a pitch, K. Ketcham walked and Aubrey Ketcham singled on a slow roller to the shortstop to load the bases.
- Smith then stepped to the plate and laced a bases-clearing double down the right field line to plate three and give SPU a 3-0 advantage.
- One inning later, Katie Sciglimpaglia walked and Skakal singled to set up another two-out rally for the Peacocks.
- Miller, who has already delivered a number of clutch hits on the season, came through once again with an RBI double to right center to push the lead to 5-0.
- The five runs would be more than enough for Antuna who did not allow a runner past second base after the second inning and retired the last seven batters she saw to earn the victory.
How it Happened (Game Two)
- The Bison were the first to strike in game two as they rallied in the second inning to put up a three spot thanks to an error and a two-out single.
- The score remained 3-0 until the top of the sixth when Howard added a pair of insurance runs thanks to a two-run homer to go up 5-0.
- In the bottom of the seventh with two away once again, Miller got the Peacocks on the board as she lifted a ball over the wall in center field to put the score at 5-1.
- That would be all the Peacocks would get, however, as a strikeout ended the contest and gave the Bison the doubleheader split.
Inside the Numbers
- McNulty singled in game one to earn her 50th hit of the season. She is the first Peacock since Nicole Olmedo in 2014 to reach the 50-hit milestone and needs just four more to crack the top-10 in single-season hits in program history.
- With her strong effort in the circle, Antuna is now the first Peacock since at least 2009 to throw multiple shutouts in the same season.
- Sydney Senerchia started game two for SPU and struck out two batters to give her 198 in her career as she continues her quest to become the seventh player in program history to reach 200 career punchouts.
- As a team, the Peacocks now have five shutouts, the most since they produced six in the 2006 season.
- Miller became the eighth different SPU player to hit a home run this season and gave the Peacocks 15 home runs as a team thus far this season.
- Dakota Pitts added another double to her ledger in the game one victory to give her 10, making her the first Peacock to reach double figures in two-baggers since Samantha Storms had 11 in 2015.
From the Dugout (Head Coach Chris Stelma, Olyvia Smith and Samantha Miller)
- "Brilliant outing out of Nikkie Antuna again today, getting the shutout. Nice to pick up a win to start off a busy final week of the season. This season with this team is truly one I don't want to see end."
Next Up
- The Peacocks will start a string of six games in four days on Thursday when they travel to Riverdale, N.Y., for their final road contest of the season as they take on Manhattan in a doubleheader starting at 1:00 p.m.
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