2023 Skyline Conference Softball Championship - Game 4
(2) Farmingdale State 2, (3) St. Joseph's-Brooklyn 1
PURCHASE, N.Y. | Freshman designated player Samantha Stolfi (Pt. Jefferson Station, N.Y.) went 2-for-3 Thursday afternoon, and drove in the eventual game-winning run in the bottom of the third inning, as second-seeded Farmingdale State College opened the 2023 Skyline Conference Softball Championship with a 2-1 victory over third-seeded St. Joseph's University-Brooklyn in a contest played at double-elimination-host Manhattanvile College.
The Rams (24-10) advance to face the top-seeded Valiants in Friday's winner's bracket contest at 10 a.m., with Farmingdale State batting as the home team. The two sides have met in the championship final of the last pair of conference tournaments.
FSC sophomore right-hander Ava Shorr (No. Babylon, N.Y.) moved to 12-5 on the season in the pitcher's circle, scattering five hits, one unearned run while striking out six Bears (25-13) -- who will play fourth-seeded Mount Saint Mary at 12:30 p.m. Friday in an elimination game.
Farmingdale State went up 1-0 in the bottom of the first inning, when junior right fielder Jenna Giliberti (Bellmore, N.Y.) led off with a single to shortstop before stealing second base. She moved up 60 feet one batter later with a steal of third base, before crossing home plate on a left-side single by junior shortstop Angelina Capuano (Sayville, N.Y.) to put her team in front.
St. Joseph's-Brooklyn leveled the contest in the top of the third stanza, taking advantage of a pair of FSC miscues, before Shorr worked out of trouble with a pair of Bears in scoring position by inducing a fly out to right.
The Rams took the lead for good in their half of the third, starting when senior center fielder Priscilla Rivera (Brentwood, N.Y.) singled to shortstop and moved to second when the throw to first base was overthrown. After Rivera stole third base, Stolfi sent the senior home with her Skyline-best 41st run batted in on a single through the left side.
Shorr allowed just one runner to advance to second base over the final four frames, scattering two singles and retiring eight of the last nine hitters she faced.