Varsity Softball | 4/6/2025 10:11:00 AM

After a pair of tough losses to open the season, the Union Catholic softball team showed their resiliency and offensive firepower on Saturday in Scotch Plains by erupting for 15 runs in the fourth inning to defeat Oak Knoll, 21-5, for their first win of the season.  

The Vikings (1-2) were clinging to a 6-5 lead in the bottom of the fourth inning when they ended the game with a 15-run explosion, capped off by a three-run homer by freshman Gabby DeJesus that clinched the victory by virtue of the mercy rule.

The Vikings finished with 16 hits, including eight extra base hits.

DeJesus, who finished with 5 runs batted in, was one of three players to go deep for the Vikings.

Freshman Kaylie Rivera had a monster game for UC as she finished the game with a homer, triple, and a double and knocked in seven runs!!

Sophomore Bella Donnelly also blasted a homer for UC, a titanic 2-run blast in the fourth inning that rolled all the way near home plate on the baseball field.

Also in the fourth inning, Belina Pardo tripled and scored, Kajsa Svensson had two singles and two RBI, Rivera slammed a 2-run double, DeJesus had a 2-run single, and Sienna Parker smashed a 2-run triple.

Lilah Reidy allowed just five hits and struck out six to pick up the victory for the Vikings, who will seek to even their record at 2-2 when they travel to Dayton on Monday.