STRATFORD, Conn. - Freshman pitcher Isabelle Yaroch (Annandale, Va.) fired a complete-game, three-hit shutout with seven strikeouts in the opening contest Saturday at DeLuca Field, lifting the Queens College softball team to a 7-0 victory over the University of Bridgeport in the front end of an East Coast Conference, regular-season finale doubleheader.
The host Purple Knights captured a 4-0 victory in the nightcap.
QC (20-16, 13-15 ECC) will now focus on the upcoming East Coast Conference Championships. Interim head coach John Pisano's Knights will commence the double-elimination tourney Thursday in Rockville Centre, N.Y., as fourth-seeded Queens will take on top-seeded Molloy. Game times and the tournament bracket will be announced shortly.
Also, Sunday's regularly scheduled non-conference doubleheader at Holy Family University in Philadelphia has been cancelled due to the pending inclement weather expected to hit the Northeast Corridor.
Game 1: Queens 7, Bridgeport 0
Yaroch carried a no-hitter into the fifth inning, and received all the offensive support she would need in the top half of that frame when QC plated six runs. Junior Carla Pennolino (Middle Village, N.Y.) provided a two-run double in the rally, while freshmen Jennifer Shereyka (Parlin, N.J.), Monique Roberge (New Hyde Park, N.Y.) and Cat Franzone (Bay Shore, N.Y.) each knocked in one.
Yaroch helped her own cause in the sixth with a pinch-hit, run-scoring fielder's choice.
Allison Breakey (Jr., Frankfort, Ill.) went 3-for-3 out of the leadoff spot with two runs scored, while sophomore Melissa Natale (Yaphank, N.Y.) went 3-for-4 with a run. Pennolino went 2-for-3, while Franzone sported a 2-for-4 contest at the dish.
Game 2: Bridgeport 4, Queens 0
Breakey went 2-for-4 in the nightcap, while sophomore catcher Kaitlyn Crowley (Patchogue, N.Y.) went 2-for-3. Sophomore pitcher Nicole Turato (Garden City, N.Y.) struck out five hitters.