SPRINGFIELD, Mass. - The Southern Connecticut State University softball squad split a pair of games against American International College, a 7-3 win and a 9-7 loss. The Owls move to 10-8 overall and 7-7 in the Northeast 10, while the Yellow Jackets move to 8-12 overall and 7-8 in the NE10.
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Jessica Perucki (West Milford, N.J.) collected her second straight win in the circle in game two pitching a complete game and striking out a career-high 14 batters. Perucki was also major contributor at the plate, going 2-for-4, including a home run and a double with two RBI and one run scored.Â
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Game One Highlights
- Jacqueline Dumont (Nashua, N.H.) went 2-for-4Â including a double with one RBI and one run scored.Â
- Emily Lange (Monroe, Conn.) went 2-for-4 with one run scored.Â
- Lauryn Zubia (San Fernando, Calif.) went 2-for-3 including a double with two RBI and one run scored.
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Game Two Highlights
- Sara Buscetto (Waterford, Conn.) went 3-for-4 with two stolen bases one RBI and one run scored.Â
- Cailey Botteon went 2-for-2 including two walks and two runs scored.Â
- Jayden Delaporta (Mystic, Conn.) went 2-for-3 including a double, two RBI and one run scored.Â
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Game 1: American International 9, Southern Connecticut 7
- AIC had an explosive opening inning, scoring seven runs on three hits that included two home runs.
- Southern responded in the second inning, scoring three runs to cut the deficit to four. Zubia tallied a two RBI double, while Rachel Miller (Waterford, Conn.) scored on a fielder's choice.
- The Owls were at it again in the fourth inning with Dumont notching a RBI single and Ally Petrella (Ellington, Conn.) scoring on a fielder's choice, putting SCSU within two.
- The next two innings saw the Yellow Jackets tally two runs on a home run a RBI single, increasing their lead to four.
- SCSU attempted a comeback with Botteon scoring on an error and Dumont scoring on a single from Delaporta. The Owls late game efforts weren't enough as AIC went on to take game one, 9-7.
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Game 2: Southern Connecticut 7, American International 3
- SCSU struck first in the second outing, allowing no runs and scoring in four-consecutive innings. Buscetto kicked off the scoring on a sacrifice fly in the first inning.
- Perucki kept the scoring going in the second, hitting a solo home run to left center field.
- Dumont picked up a RBI double in the third inning, scoring Botteon. In the next at bat, Delaporta hit a RBI single bringing around Dumont.
- The fourth inning saw Buscetto pick up a RBI single, putting the Owls up by five.
- AIC responded in the bottom half of the inning, scoring three runs, cutting the Owls lead to two.
- Delaporta and Perucki both collected RBI doubles in back-to-back at bats, increasing SCSU's lead to four.Â
- Perucki's solid performance in the circle combined with the Owls explosive offense was the difference maker as they went onto win 7-3.
Game Notes
- Sara Buscetto collected her 18th and 19th stolen bases of the season against AIC on April 17. Buscetto is now tied for first all-time in SCSU history with Brittany Bucko (64) for career stolen bases.
- Jessica Perucki earned her fifth win of the season and third-straight in the circle.
- Perucki's game two home run is her second in as many appearances. The last player to hit a home run in back-to-back appearances was Giulianna D'Arcangelo, who homered against New York Tech on March 20, 2016 and against St. Michael's on March 21, 2016.
- The Owls had 10 hits in both games against AIC. The last time team had 10 or more hits in back-to-back games was on April 6, 2019 when they had 10 and 11, respectively, in a 7-0 and 5-3 wins at Saint Michael's.Â
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On Deck
These two teams will square off once again on Sunday, April 18 for another NE10 doubleheader in Springfield, Mass. First pitch for game one is set for noon.
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