WENHAM, Mass—Sophomore Megan Jenkerson (McDonough, Ga.) used the long ball in each game to break the single-season Gordon record for round-trippers in a sweep of the Blue Jays of Saint Joseph. The Fighting Scots roared back from a 2-0 deficit with a seven-run sixth to win game one 7-2
The Fighting Scots improve to 11-17 on the season, while the Blue Jays were swept in a doubleheader for just the third time this year. Saint Joseph falls to 14-10 in 2017.
Game One
The silence of a quick few innings was broken in the top of the third by the Blue Jays. Gordon pitcher Caitlin Catalanotto (Kingston, N.H.) got two of the first three batters out, but got into a bit of trouble when Taylor Marino (Middlefield, Conn.) singled and then advanced on a throwing error by the pitcher. Gordon almost got out of the inning unscathed, but another error allowed a run to cross and kept the Blue Jays' rally alive. Starting pitcher Amaria Sharon (Tolland, Conn.) made the Scots pay with a double into the gap in left to score Marino, but Gordon was able to prevent any further damage.
The 2-0 score remained until the bottom of the sixth when Gordon's offense awoke from a slumber. After getting the first batter to strike out, Laura Bieren (Groton, Mass.) struck a double to the left-field wall to get things going. Carleigh Petersen (North Hills, Calif.) reached on an error before Rose Shannon (Ashland, Mass.) singled in the first run for the Scots with a hit to deep short. Sarah Ryder (Telford, Pa.) tied the game on a ball that snuck into right field on the ground.
Sharon was able to register another K, with Catalanotto as her victim, to put two outs on the board. Lexy Haye (Wells, Maine) was subbed into the game in search of her first hit of the season when things got crazy for the Fighting Scots. Gordon called a gusty double-steal with the runner on third on delay. Ryder snuck in under the tag at second allowing Petersen to score easily from third.
Haye then singled into left to again put runners in the corners before Emily Kline (Park Ridge, N.J.) and Jenkerson cleaned up the mess. Kline hit a two-RBI triple to deep right before Jenkerson hit the record-tying bomb to left-center to make it a 7-2 game.
Catalanotto kept the Blue Jays off the board in the top of the seventh despite a lead-off double for Megan Ricci (Center Moriches, N.Y.).
Only one run of the nine scored in the game were earned. Sharon went six innings with only one earned run against and six strikeouts. Catalanotto K'd three Blue Jays to earn her eighth win of her rookie campaign.
Karen Agogliati (Portland, Conn.) had the only multi-hit game for the visitors while Biere, Petersen and Catalanotto all had two hits for Gordon.
Game Two
Scot fans did not have to wait long for Jenkerson to break the home run record as the sophomore clunked the first pitch she saw in the first inning to dead center. Gordon's offense in the first did not stop there as Ryder sent a 2-0 pitch with two outs the inning to right field to plate both Kaelie Mercado (Grenada Hills, Calif.) and Petersen.
Ricci took one back for the Blue Jays in the top half of the second with an RBI single.
Up to bat with a 3-1 lead, Jenkerson came up to bat with a chance to accomplish a feat never accomplished in Gordon history. She leapt at the opportunity and demolished a home run for the third at bat in a row.
Saint Joseph never got too low despite the deficit, chipping away with two runs in the third to quickly close the gap. The Blue Jays really got things going in the fourth by capitalizing on a pair of Gordon errors. Ercoli singled to third with the bases loaded to easily score a run, but a throwing error brought another one in to give the Blue Jays their first lead. Saint Joseph extended the run with a two-RBI single for Rachel Dube (Southington, Conn.) before another error made it an 8-4 game.
Gordon was able to halve the four-run disadvantage in the second half of the fourth with a bases-loaded single for Bieren and another on an error at third.
Saint Joseph held the 8-6 lead into the final half inning when Gordon made its final rally. The first two Scots accepted walks to begin the inning before a pinch-hitting Catalanotto drove in Kline from second. Bieren knotted the game at eight with a sacrifice fly, but Gordon's advantage was temporarily halted when the runner tagging from second was thrown out.
With two outs Saint Joseph committed two costly mistakes to end the game. A firm grounder to the left side was misplayed before a fly ball was dropped to allow Petersen to cross home for the walk-off triumph.
Ercoli had a game-high three hits for the Blue Jays, while Ricci and Klimaszewski each contributed two.
Jenkerson scored four times in the contest and was walked in each of her three plate appearances after hitting two goners to begin the game. Petersen reach base safely in all four appearances, but two were by error and two by hits.
Despite the win, Gordon left the bases loaded twice with no runs crossing the plate and a total of 11 runners on base. Both teams committed four errors in the game to keep things interesting.
Kline took home the victory with three and two-thirds innings of relief with only two earned runs allowed. She struck out four Jays.
What's Next?
Gordon is scheduled to take on Salem State tomorrow at 4 p.m. in Salem, weather pending. The Blue Jays head home to host Suffolk tomorrow at 3 p.m.
Scots Bits
Jenkerson's first home run of game two bested the record held by Lindsey Knuckles and Kerry McPartlan, which were recorded in 2008 and 2010 respectively. Jenkerson already tied the season doubles mark earlier in the week and is on pace to tie or set several other single-season records.
