PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Senior Caroline Amorelli and sophomore Amanda Madigan each drove in a run for the JWU (Providence) softball team in a 5-2 loss to the University of Saint Joseph (CT) in Game One of the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Championship Saturday afternoon at the Scotts Miracle-Gro Athletic Complex.

The loss puts the Wildcats (27-15) on the brink of elimination, needing to win a pair of games against the Blue Jays (22-17) to capture their first GNAC crown since 2022 and advance to the NCA Tournament.

JWU jumped out to a 2-0 lead on an RBI double off the bat of Madigan and a run-scoring single from Amorelli. The Blue Jays responded with two in the fourth to grab a one-run lead before the visitors opened the fifth with back-to-back jacks to right field – where the wind was blowing out – to push their lead to three runs.

The Wildcats loaded the bases in the seventh but were unable to score. Senior starter Katie Scheid allowed eight hits and five runs in five innings of work to suffer just her second loss since April 6.