Martinez and Schamberger Lead Golden Eagle Sweep of Nationally Ranked Ramapo

April 11, 2008

Patchogue, NY - Don’t tell the Golden Eagle women’s softball team (16-2) that they can’t play with the best in the nation as they upended the #11 ranked Ramapo College Roadrunners (19-7) in a doubleheader sweep last night. St. Joseph’s rode the dominant pitching of senior Jennifer Martinez as she limited the visitors to no runs and five hits all evening - including a one-hitter in game two - and struck out 27 batters over 14 innings.

St. Joseph’s edged out the Roadrunners, 1-0, in game one with the lone run driven in on an RBI single by senior Kaitlin Schamberger in the bottom of the third inning. She plated Martinez who had previously reached on a single and moved to second on a groundout by sophomore Alana Buckley. One run was all the Golden Eagles needed as Martinez mowed down 16 batters allowing only four hits and two walks.

In game two, the Eagles offensive hero again was Schamberger as she sent a double down the right field line to drive home sophomore Suzanne Milani and make the score 1-0 in the third. The next inning senior Michelle Nardella lined a single into centerfield to score fellow senior Allyson Frisina to stretch the SJC lead to 2-0.

Martinez was an inch away from her tenth career no-hitter in game two but Ramapo’s Katie Donnelly beat out a bunt to reach first with two outs in the seventh inning. The Eagles’ righty struck out eleven in the contest. Amazingly, Martinez lowered her Skyline Conference leading ERA to 0.69 with 231 strikeouts - an average of 2.3 per inning.

The two wins are significant for St. Joseph’s as they look to make a splash on the national softball scene and gain the attention of the National Fastpitch Coaches Association ranking committee. The next poll will be released by the middle of next week and the Eagles could find themselves included for the first time.

Up next for SJC are two Skyline doubleheaders with Polytechnic and Purchase this weekend. Polytechnic will visit Martha Avenue Field in Bellport, Saturday at noon. St. Joseph’s is currently riding a 13-game winning streak and is unbeaten (6-0) in the Skyline.

Game One Box