Softball Tallies Wins Over No. 15 Saginaw Valley and Salem (WV)
Purple Knights now 7-3 through 10 games this season, marking their best start since 2022.
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E |
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1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 2 |
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0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 0 |
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E |
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1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 1 |
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1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | X | 7 | 7 | 1 |
MELBOURNE, Fla. – Powered by four home runs and a pair of terrific pitching performances, the University of Bridgeport's softball team earned wins over both No. 15 nationally ranked Saginaw Valley (2-1) and Salem University (7-2) on Thursday at the USSSA Space Coast Complex.
The Purple Knights are now 7-3 through 10 games this season, marking their best start since 2022.
GAME ONE – Bridgeport 2, No. 15 Saginaw Valley State 1
It was another masterful performance from senior Vise Zarate that fueled the Purple Knights to their best win of the spring so far.
Zarate went the distance, allowing just one run on four hits while walking one and striking out two to improve to 5-1 on the year with a 1.52 ERA (32.1 IP).
Offensively, fellow senior Mya Jones provided all the scoring for Bridgeport. Jones first put UB on the board in the opening inning with an RBI double that plated Sydnee Perreault, who began the game with a single.
Jones struck again in the fourth inning, launching the Purple Knights' first home run of the season to extend the lead to 2-0.
Saginaw Valley trimmed the deficit to 2-1 later in the fourth, but Zarate and the Bridgeport defense closed the door from there.
Nathalie Mongrain also contributed at the plate with a single as the Purple Knights finished the contest with four hits overall.
GAME TWO – Bridgeport 7, Salem (WV) 2
An offensive eruption from McKenzie Morgan and Isabella Benjamin fueled the Purple Knights in the finale, as the duo combined for six hits, six RBIs and three runs scored.
Benjamin blasted a pair of solo home runs, while Morgan added a solo shot in the third inning to give Bridgeport a 3-1 lead. Morgan continued her big day in the fifth, delivering a two-run single that extended the Purple Knights' advantage to 6-2.
Benjamin finished a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate with two RBIs and two runs scored, while Morgan also went 3-for-3 and drove in a game-high four runs.
Breanna Pelaez chipped in offensively as well with a bunt single in the second inning.
In the circle, Samantha Ledger followed the earlier pitching performance of Zarate with a superb outing of her own.
The senior right-hander went the distance, allowing just five hits and two runs while striking out one to improve to 2-0 on the season with a 1.75 ERA across 24.0 innings pitched.
UB steadily built its lead throughout the game, scoring in five different innings while Ledger kept the Salem lineup in check to secure the victory.
UP NEXT
The Purple Knights will continue their spring break trip with a pair of games tomorrow night at the USSSA Space Coast Complex. UB will take on Findlay at 4:45 pm before facing West Virginia Wesleyan at 7 p.m.