SOFTBALL DROPS 20-14 SLUGFEST TO COLLEGE OF SAINT BENEDICT

LEESBURG, Fla. – The College of Saints Benedict blew open a close game scoring eight runs over the final two innings to cruise to a 20-14 victory over Emmanuel College Monday evening in Day two action of the NTC Spring Games. CSB improves to 3-1 on the year while the loss drops Emmanuel to 1-3 overall.

The Blazers wasted no time racing out to a 3-0 lead collecting four consecutive singles to open the action. Sophomore centerfield Kate Deming (Bloomington, Minn.), junior first baseman Megan Toninato (Woodbury, Minn.), sophomore left fielder Emilie Antony (Forest Lake, Minn.) and junior shortstop Sara Wennerstrand (Baxter, Minn.) all singled to open the inning with Deming, Toninato and Antony coming around to score to account for the 3-0 score.

Emmanuel got one back in the bottom of the first as sophomore catcher Casey Sheehan (Medway, Mass.) reached on an error. She advanced to second on a wild pitch and next up, sophomore designated player Ashley Skey (Brookline, N.H.) connected on a single up the middle. Sheehan advanced to third and came around to score on a bobble in the outfield to make it a 3-1 game.

In the second inning, Saint Benedict took advantage of an EC miscue to push across two unearned runs and build a 5-1 lead. Freshman Hailey Monrow (Farmington, Minn.) reached via the error and came around to score on an RBI single by Deming to make it 4-1. Deming made it 5-1 coming around to score on an RBI triple to left by Antony but EC starting pitcher Jill Kilcoyne (Worcester, Mass.) stranded Antony at third to keep the score at 5-1.

The Saints batted around in the bottom of the second sending 10 batters to the plate to score five runs and take a 6-5 lead. Senior left fielder Brenna Gilmore (San Carlos, Calif.) got the action started with a one-out homer to left to make it 5-2. Freshman right fielder Sarah Hoisl (West Hartford, Conn.) reached next getting hit by a pitch and moved into scoring position when sophomore centerfield Olivia Burgos (Newington, Conn.) lined a single to center. Freshman shortstop Kerry Sendrick (Medway, Mass.) loaded the bases with a single before freshman second baseman Sydney Rogers (Southwick, Mass.) drew a walk to force in a run and make it 5-3. Sheehan kept the rally going reaching on a fielder's choice to drive in a run and make it 5-4. Skey loaded the bases with another single which triggered a CSB pitching change. The Saints welcomed the new hurler with patience at the plate as senior first baseman Susie Kieselback (Wethersfield, Conn.) and senior third baseman Kara Madden (Silver Spring, Md.) drew walks to force in the fifth and sixth runs of the game for Emmanuel to bump the Saints on top, 6-5.

CSB evened the score at 6-all in the fourth with some small ball. Deming drew a walk, stole second and moved over to third on a sacrifice bunt by Toninato. Antony drove in the tying run with a single through the right side for her third hit and third RBI of the game to make it 6-6.

Saint Benedict broke open a tied ballgame scoring six runs in the fifth inning to build up a 12-6 lead on EC. The Blazers sent nine batters to the plate, collected five hits including a bases-clearing three-RBI double by Antony.

EC got four back in the bottom half of the frame on three home runs.  Freshman outfielder Sara Hoisl (West Hartford, Conn.) led off the inning with her first collegiate homer to cut the lead to 12-7. Next up, Burgos connected for a back-to-back combo to make it 12-8 going deep over the left centerfield fence. Sendrick kept the inning going reaching on an error and two batters later Skey belted her second bomb in as many days to pull the Saints to within two runs at 12-10.

The Blazers answered with four runs in the top of the sixth to regain a six run cushion at 16-10. Deming stayed hot with an RBI single up the middle and came around to score on a two-RBI single to right by Toninato.

In the seventh, CSB added four more runs to put the game out of reach at 20-10. The Saints did get all four runs back in the bottom half of the frame fueled by a three-run homer by S. Kieselback to make it 20-14 which would prove to be the final.

Deming finished the evening going 5-for-5 with six runs scored and five RBI. Antony also finished with five hits going 5-for-6 with seven RBI and two runs scored.

Skey paced the Saints with a 4-for-5 outing, driving in two runs to go along with a run scored.

Emmanuel is back in action on Wednesday, March 8 when they take on Elizabethtown at 9:00 AM.