Scranton Softball Claims Record-Setting Sweep

SCRANTON, Pa. — The University of Scranton swept Richard Stockton College in a non-conference doubleheader Sunday afternoon at Tripp Park.

With the wins, the Royals improve to 23-9 overall and eclipsed the previous school-record of 21 wins set by the 1980 team under then head coach Gary Wodder. Junior pitcher Isabel Mendez (Rutherford, N.J./Rutherford) also etched her name in the Scranton record book by striking out three as the Royals won the opener, 11-3, in six innings. She picked up her 13th victory, which eclipses the previous record of 12 wins by University of Scranton Wall of Fame inductees Alyce Ruane (1980) and Sue Moore (1982).

Mendez got plenty of help from freshman Annie Zeleniak (Taylor, Pa./Scranton Preparatory) and junior Sarah Capodice (Cranford, N.J./Cranford). Zeleniak finished with two hits, including her team-leading sixth of the season, and drove in four runs and Capodice hit a three-run home run to cap off a five-run rally in the first inning. Capodice’s home run was the first of her career. Senior Mary Beth Vogel (Havertown, Pa./Cardinal O’Hara) had three hits, including a triple, and drove in two runs and senior Erin Moreau (Nanuet, N.Y./Nanuet) and freshman Mia Collarini (Jessup, Pa./Valley View) contributed two hits apiece for Scranton, which belted out 12 for the game. Both of Collarini’s hits were doubles, giving her a team-leading 13 on the season.

Sophomore Kelly Dodd (Linwood, N.J./Mainland) hit a two-run home run and finished with two hits and junior Lindsay Connell (Rahway, N.J./Rahway) and senior Natalie Berrios (Vineland, N.J./Vineland) contributed two hits apiece also for the Ospreys. Both of Berrios’ hits were doubles.

The Royals took the second game by a score of 2-1 in eight innings. Sophomore Ashley Regan (Old Forge, Pa./Old Forge) drove in Vogel, who reached on a fielder’s choice, advanced to second-base on an error, and scored on a sharp line drive to left field. Regan and Moreau finished with two hits apiece and Vogel drove in the tying run in the eighth on a ball hit to the left side of the infield.

Sophomore pitcher Kasey Borbidge (Glenolden, Pa./Springfield) picked up her 10th victory of the season by scattering six hits and not allowing an earned run. Defensively, Collarini saved a run with a diving catch on a ball hit by Connell in the fourth inning with two outs and a runner in scoring position. She also snagged a hard-hit line drive with runners on first and third and one out in the top of the eighth.

Richard Stockton, now 21-13, took a 1-0 lead in the top of the eighth on an RBI double by junior Samantha Horner (Newfield, N.J./Buena), but the Ospreys stranded runners on the corners with one out.

Borbidge is also moving up the Royals’ single-season list for most wins by a pitcher. Her 10 wins is now tied for fourth, joining Sarah Rhodes, who won 10 games for Scranton in three different seasons (2001, 2002, 2004).

The Royals will take on cross-town neighbor Marywood University this Tuesday, April 22, at Tripp Park beginning at 6:00 p.m.