LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ–The Saint Peter's softball team (5-23, 2-12 MAAC) gears up for back-to-back conference matchups this week, beginning with a road doubleheader against Rider on Tuesday, April 7, before returning home to host Merrimack in a three-game series April 11-12.
Against the Broncs, first pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m. at Herb & Joan Young Field in Lawrenceville, NJ, with game two set for 4 p.m.
The Peacocks will then welcome Merrimack to Jaroschak Field. Saturday's doubleheader begins at 12 p.m., followed by game two at 2 p.m. The series concludes Sunday at noon.
LAST TIME OUT
Saint Peter's fell to Hofstra in a midweek doubleheader by a combined score of 13-8. In the first game,
Paige Seemon put together an impressive outing, going 3-for-4, while
Bella Nutting launched her first collegiate home run.
In game two,
Olivia Christopher paced the offense with a 2-for-3 performance, adding a run scored and the Peacocks' lone RBI of the nightcap.
Against Canisius, the Peacocks took game one of the three-game series.
Morgan Lipansky 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.
Angela Tremarco and
Summer Solitaria each went 2-for-4, with both launching their first home runs of the season, while Solitaria smashed her first collegiate grand slam to secure the victory.
In game 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
Tremarco leading the offense with a 2-for-3 effort.
In the final game of the series, Lipansky made an appearance, pitching 5.2 innings of relief, allowing only one run to cross the plate, unearned, while striking out six batters.
Klotz and
Carlee Charles paced the Peacocks, both going 2-for-4, with Charles blasting her first home run of the season.
ABOUT THE PEACOCKS
Saint Peter's went 3-20 during February, with one of their wins coming against the reigning MAAC champions, Marist, handing them their first conference loss of the season.
The Peacocks closed the month on a nine-game skid but put together several impressive performances. Against Rutgers, Saint Peter's recorded season highs in runs scored (8), hits (13), and RBIs (8).
Hannah Klotz tallied a hit in the final nine games of the month, including five multi-hit performances.
The Peacocks launched four home runs during March, with
Danni Forrester leading with two, while
Paige Seemon and
Bella Nutting added one each.
Saint Peter's had four players tally three hits in a game, with
Kiana Kadena Matsuda pacing the team with two.
Seemon leads the Peacocks offensively, batting .338 with a .834 OPS. Through 28 games, she has recorded 25 hits, 14 runs scored, and six extra-base hits.
In the circle,
Morgan Lipansky is 3-6 through 12 appearances and 10 starts with a 4.55 ERA and a 1.50 WHIP across 60.0 innings pitched while tallying 55 strikeouts.
ABOUT THE BRONCS
Rider (16-16, 7-6 MAAC) closed March with a 12-5 record, with more than half of their wins coming from conference matchups, including a five-game win streak midway through the month.
The Broncs took three of the four conference series they played, sweeping Niagara in a doubleheader, dropping one game each to Manhattan and Quinnipiac, and losing two of three to Iona.
To start April, Rider fell to Siena in a doubleheader, 9-2.
Rider has five players batting over .300, with Aspen Wheeler leading offensively, batting .374 with a .850 OPS. Through 32 games, she has recorded 40 hits, 22 runs scored, and five extra-base hits.
In the circle, Gabbi Rodriguez is 6-5 through 15 appearances and 13 starts with a 3.31 ERA and a 1.35 WHIP across 78.1 innings pitched while tallying 25 strikeouts.
Leading the Broncs in her ninth season is head coach Davon Ortega.
ABOUT THE WARRIORS
Merrimack (6-22, 4-11 MAAC) finished March with a 4-14 record, with three of their wins during the month coming in conference play.
The Warriors snapped a five-game skid with a sweep over Canisius before dropping their next six contests, but bounced back with a win over Iona on the final day of the month. Merrimack was also swept by both Mount St. Mary's and Fairfield.
To start April, Merrimack went 1-2 against Sacred Heart, winning the final game of the series in extra innings, 1-0.
Madeline Arvai leads the Warriors offensively, batting .289 with a .793 OPS. Through 28 games, she has recorded 24 hits, 11 runs scored, and six extra-base hits.
In the circle, Anna Gedacht is 4-12 through 17 appearances and 16 starts with a 4.52 ERA and a 1.57 WHIP across 91.1 innings pitched while tallying 56 strikeouts.
Leading the Warriors in her first season is head coach Jill Gagnon.
ALL TIME SERIES
Saint Peter's is 14-24 all-time against Rider. The Broncs swept the series last season by a combined score of 26-10.
The Peacocks' last win came in 2024, when Saint Peter's split the doubleheader, taking the second game 9-7.
Ashley Murphy went 1-for-2, while
Angelina Wagner was credited with the win, pitching 4.0 innings and allowing just one earned run.
Saint Peter's is 1-2 all-time against Merrimack. In their first meeting, the Peacocks took game two of the three-game series in a 7-2 victory.
During the win,
Olivia Christopher went a perfect 4-for-4 with a double, two runs scored, and a pair of stolen bases, while
Ava White earned the victory, pitching a complete game while allowing just one earned run with four strikeouts.
AROUND THE MAAC
Marist leads the MAAC standings with an 11-2 conference record, followed by Siena at 10-3 in league play and currently riding a seven-game win streak. Quinnipiac sits third at 13-4, with Sacred Heart close behind at 10-4. Mount St. Mary's is fifth with a seven-game win streak, while Fairfield rounds out the top six at 6-4.
This week's MAAC matchups include:
Tuesday:
Canisius vs. Iona
Sacred Heart vs. Marist
Saint Peter's vs. Rider
Quinnipiac vs. Fairfield
This Weekend:
Siena vs. Manhattan
Rider vs. Marist
Mount St. Mary's vs. Canisius
Fairfield vs. Sacred Heart
Iona vs. Niagara
Merrimack vs. Saint Peter's
For continuing coverage of Saint Peter's University Athletics, visit SaintPetersPeacocks.com and follow the Peacocks on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.
