Jacquelyn Rossi	Gabrielle Santarelli
Stephanie Romano	Jamie Hampsey

Box Score (Game 1)
Box Score (Game 2)

Photo Gallery (courtesy of Emma Black)

Photo Gallery (couresy of Dan Ceccacci)

JESSUP, Pa.—Sophomore outfielder Gabrielle Santarelli (Jessup, Pa./Valley View) had three hits, drove in three runs, and made a key defensive play to help The University of Scranton softball team sweep a non-conference doubleheader from Hunter College Sunday afternoon at the Jessup Youth Sports Complex.

Santarelli drove in two runs with a double in a 9-4 victory in the first game, then had two hits and an RBI and threw out the potential game-tying runner for the final out, in a 6-5 win in the nightcap.  With the wins, Scranton improved to 7-6 while the Hawks fell to 6-14.

In the opener, the Royals broke open a close game with a six-run rally in the sixth inning that included a two-run double by Santarelli and an RBI double by junior Caitlin McHenry (Cortlandt Manor, NY/Walter Panas).  

Sophomore Jacquelyn Rossi (Eynon, Pa./Valley View) had two hits, including a two-run home run, and senior Jamie Shackles (Philadelphia, Pa./Little Flower) belted a pair of doubles to support winning pitcher Alison Kucharski (Hampton, NJ/North Hunterdon), who struck out five to improve to 3-3 on the season.  Freshman Jamie Hampsey (Tunkhannock, Pa./Tunkhannock) and sophomore Blaire Wilkie (Kulpsville, Pa./North Penn) each belted a double for Scranton.

Freshman Nicole Fillisetti (Staten Island, NY/Tottenville) hit a solo home run among her two hits and senior Molly Meehan (Pearl River, NY/Albertus Magnus) finished with two hits for Hunter.

The Hawks jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the nightcap behind a solo home run by junior Julia Lipovac (Astoria, NY/Archbishop Malloy) and a two-run home run by losing pitcher Erika Colangelo (Islip, NY/Islip).

Scranton got one back in the fifth inning on a double by Santarelli, who came around to score on an error, before the Royals rallied for five runs in the sixth to take a 6-4 lead.  Sophomore Stephanie Romano (Oak Ridge, NJ/West Milford) drove in two runs with a single and freshman Maria Gentile (Jefferson Township, Pa./North Pocono) and Santarelli each hit an RBI single during the rally.

The Hawks had runners on second and third base with two outs in the top of the seventh inning before Santarelli threw out Sophia Ponce (Bronx, NY/Cardinal Spellman) at the plate trying to score on a single by Lipovac to end the game.

Hampsey, the winning pitcher, scattered six hits and struck out six to improve to 4-3 on the year.

The Royals will take on backyard neighbor Keystone College in a non-conference doubleheader this Thursday, April 11, in LaPlume beginning at 3:00 p.m.

--ROYALS--