JERSEY CITY, NJ– The Saint Peter's softball team (5-22, 2-11 MAAC) split a doubleheader against Canisius (7-18, 3-8 MAAC) Friday afternoon at Jaroschak Field, earning its first win against the Griffs since 2019.
Morgan Lipansky pitched a gem in the opener with eight strikeouts, while
Summer Solitaria launched her first career grand slam to seal the victory.
Angela Tremarco paced the Peacocks with back-to-back multi-hit performances.
Morgan Lipansky (3-6) secured her second conference victory of the season, pitching a complete game while tallying eight strikeouts. The Peacocks recorded season highs in hits (14), runs (12), RBIs (12), and home runs (2).
Five Peacocks recorded at least two hits, with
Hannah Klotz pacing the offense with a 3-for-4 performance. It marked her first three-hit and multi-RBI game of the season, and she added her fifth double of the year.
Angela Tremarco and
Summer Solitaria each went 2-for-4, with both launching their first home runs of the season. Tremarco added two RBIs and three runs scored, while Solitaria hit her first collegiate grand slam, driving in five runs.
Brielle Coppola (0-7) was credited with the loss in game two after allowing six earned runs on eight hits while striking out two.
Gabriella Rivera provided 3.1 innings of relief, allowing no hits while tallying two strikeouts.
The Peacocks collected five hits in the nightcap, with
Angela Tremarco leading the offense with a 2-for-3 effort.
HOW IT HAPPENED
GAME ONE
Morgan Lipansky opened the day with back-to-back strikeouts, one looking and one swinging, to get the first two outs of the game. Canisius responded with a double to center and followed with a home run to take a 2-0 lead. Lipansky secured the third out with a swinging strikeout to hold the Griffs at bay.
Canisius added another run in the second from two singles, a sacrifice bunt, and a passed ball to extend its lead to 3-0. Lipansky added another strikeout to her line.
Saint Peter's got on the board in the second from a two-out double by
Summer Solitaria that drove in
Angela Tremarco.
The Griffs threatened in the top of the third, loading the bases with two singles to left and a walk with one out, but Lipansky stranded the runners with a pair of swinging strikeouts.
After retiring the side in the top of the fourth, the Peacocks tied the game at 3-3. Tremarco singled up the middle to start the inning, and
Lauren Czerwinski reached base via a hit by pitch. With two outs,
Hannah Klotz launched a double deep to center for a base-clearing hit.
Canisius responded in the fifth with back-to-back doubles to regain the lead, 4-3. In the bottom of the inning, the Peacocks used a two-out single from
Olivia Christopher and Tremarco's first collegiate home run to go ahead 5-4.
Saint Peter's sealed the victory in the sixth with a seven-run frame. Czerwinski started the inning with a single, and a wild pitch moved her to second with one out. Klotz followed with a single to put runners on the corners, and
Kiana Kadena Matsuda laid down a single to third to bring in Czerwinski.
Paige Seemon was hit by a pitch to load the bases, and
Carlee Charles hit a standing double to extend the Peacocks' lead to 8-4. Christopher reached on a fielder's choice to reload the bases, and Solitaria ended the game with the first Saint Peter's grand slam of the season to secure a 12-4 victory.
GAME TWO
Canisius opened the scoring in game two with a four-run second inning. A walk and a two-run homer put the score at 2-0, and a pair of singles, walks, and fielder's choices extended the lead to 4-0.
The Griffs added two more runs in the fourth from a pair of singles and a walk to load the bases, followed by another single that drove in two runs. The Peacocks were held to just two hits through the first four innings and were retired in order in both the first and third.
Saint Peter's cut the deficit by two in the sixth.
Steph Bendzlowicz opened the inning with a standing double to left-center, and with two outs,
Paige Seemon sent a high popup into the infield that was lost in the sun and dropped by Canisius, allowing Bendzlowicz to score.
Carlee Charles followed with a single up the middle, and another Griff's error in the outfield brought in Seemon.
The Peacocks threatened in the final frame, loading the bases with an
Angela Tremarco single and walks from
Summer Solitaria and Bendzlowicz, but a lineout, a fielder's choice, and a groundout ended the opportunity, securing the 6-2 win for Canisius.
UP NEXT
The Peacocks conclude the series with Canisius on Sunday, April 3, at Jaroschak Field at noon.
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