FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Courtesy of USJ Athletics Communications
NAPLES, Fla. – University of Saint Joseph softball coach Jim McKinnon won his 200th career game Sunday with the second of two USJ victories Sunday at the North Collier Regional Park.
USJ defeated Edgewood 5-2 and Nichols 3-1 and has won three of four games so far on its annual spring training trip. McKinnon, in his 11th season, became the first USJ coach to win 200 games in any sport.
"I'm very proud of the 200 wins and very proud of every player that's played at USJ," McKinnon said. "People will ask me, how did you get to 200 wins? Two words: Great players. I've been helped tremendously by the assistant coaches, Jim Valenti, who has been with me for nine years and Hope Kelley who played for me and has been on the staff now for four years. It's not a one-man show and I'm really, really proud of what we've accomplished."
In the opener, Patti Sciglimpaglia (Norwalk, Conn.) pitched her second complete game victory in two days. She allowed five hits, all singles. Both she and twin sister Mary Sciglimpaglia (Norwalk, Conn.) each had two hits on the game for St. Joseph.
USJ scored a run in the first when Haley McCall (Lebanon, Conn.) walked to lead off and eventually scored on a wild pitch. The lead grew to 4-0 in the third on an RBI-single from Patti Sciglimpaglia, a hit by Mary Sciglimpaglia combined with a throwing error and an RBI-single fromAshley Tucker (Middletown, Conn.) After Edgewood (4-6) scored twice to pull within 4-2, USJ scored the final run in the fifth inning, whenKara Klimaszewski (Naugatuck, Conn.) drew a based-loaded walk to bring home Emily Ference (Berlin, Conn.)
Against Nichols (2-4), Danielle Circosta (Feeding Hills, Mass.) allowed five hits and an unearned run for her first win of the season with a complete-game effort. USJ would give Circosta all the runs she would need with three in the first. Isabella Russo (Southington, Conn.) doubled to right center and Sarah Ercoli (Watertown, Conn .) moved her to third with a bunt single. Patti Sciglimpaglia then tripled down the right field line to make it 2-0 and scored herself on a wild pitch. Ashley Rzeszewski (Eynon, Pa.) had two hits for the Blue Jays.
USJ returns to action Tue. March 15 with games against Kenton (3 p.m.) and Augsburg (5 p.m.) in Fort Myers.
