SOFTBALL FALLS TWICE TO JWU IN GNAC TWINBILL

THE BASICS 

Scores:    Johnson & Wales University, 2; Emmanuel College, 0
               Johnson & Wales University, 14; Emmanuel College, 1
Records:   Emmanuel College Saints (8-11, 3-5 GNAC)
               Johnson & Wales University (14-7, 11-1 GNAC)
Location:  Boston, Mass. – Roberto Clemente Field
Date:       Sunday, April 8, 2018

THE LEAD: The Johnson & Wales University softball team took two games from the Emmanuel College Saints on Sunday afternoon in Great Northeast Athletic Conference action, picking up a 2-0 win in game one followed by a 14-1 win in game two at Roberto Clemente Field.  

HOW IT HAPPENED  

GM 1

• After three scoreless innings of play, the Wildcats scored the only run they'd need to go ahead 1-0 behind an RBI single up the middle from senior Katie Rufo (Natick, Mass.). Junior Meghan Gavin (Wallingford, Conn.) opened the inning with an infield single, stole second and came around to score on Rufo's shot up the middle.
• The Saints threatened to answer in the bottom half of the fourth with a leadoff double by Olivia Burgos (Newington, Conn.) but JWU was able to strand the runner in scoring position to preserve the 1-0 cushion.
• The Wildcats scored an insurance run in the sixth to make it 2-0 on an RBI single to centerfield by senior pitcher Jennifer Corona (Middle Island, N.Y.).
• Corona made it hold up, not allowing a hit over the final two innings to preserve the 2-0 final for Johnson & Wales and improves to 7-4 on the year in the circle, striking out 10 in the win while scattering just three hits.

GM 2

• Johnson & Wales scored in every inning but would only need the two runs it plated in the first to cruise to a 14-1 win in game two.
• The scoring started on a two-RBI single to left field by sophomore pitcher Kristin Frost (Pearly City, Hawaii) to give the Wildcats the 2-0 lead.
• JWU bumped the lead to 4-0 with two runs in the second on a towering home run to centerfield by junior shortstop Brenna DuPerry (Cranston, R.I.).
• Emmanuel got one back in the bottom of the second on a solo homerun by junior catcher Casey Sheehan (Medway, Mass.) but it was the only run they were able to muster as JWU continued to pile on the runs.
• A three-run blast in the third by junior Kayla McKinnon (Cambridge, Mass.) moved the score to 7-1 before Johnson & Wales tacked on four more runs in the fourth to increase the lead to 11-1.
• Rufo capped the scoring in the fifth with a three run blast to left center to account for the 14-1 final as Frost went the distance in the circle for the win to stay perfect on the year and improve to 5-0.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS 

• Gavin was the only player to collect multiple hits in both games, finish the day going 4-for-5.
• For EC, junior Audrey Esakoff (Ventura, Calif.) and sophomore Sarah Hoisl (West Hartford, Conn.) collected hits in both games.
• Junior pitcher Megan Kieselback (Wethersfield, Conn.) suffered the game one loss allowing the two runs on six hits while striking out three in a solid outing.
• The Saints have now dropped their last six games to the Wildcats as JWU now owns a 21-17 all-time series lead over Emmanuel.

UP NEXT

• Emmanuel returns to action on Tuesday, April 10 when they host UMass Boston at 6:00 PM in a non-conference doubleheader at Clemente Field.
• The Wildcats are back on Wednesday, April 11 hitting the road for a twinbill at Lasell College scheduled for 3:00 and 5:00 PM.