Softball Rallies to Top Lesley in Opener, 6-5

CLERMONT, Fla. – The Emmanuel College softball team opened the 2020 campaign with a 6-5 come-from-behind victory over Lesley University before falling to Bates College in walk-off fashion, 5-4, to split Day 1 action at the NTC Spring Games in Clermont, Fla.

THE BASICS 

Score(s): 
Emmanuel College, 6; Lesley University, 5
Emmanuel College, 4, Bates College, 5
Records: 
Emmanuel College Saints (1-1, 0-0 GNAC)
Lesley University Lynx (0-3, 0-0 NECC)
Bates College (1-0, 0-0 NESCAC)
Location: Clermont, Fla. – Legends Way
Date: Sunday, March 8, 2020

HOW IT HAPPENED (vs. Lesley)

• The Lynx jumped out to an early 5-0 lead, plating two runs in the first inning on RBI singles from Allyson Murphy and Antonia Kieran before Mahlia Medina, Jordan Day and Murphy added RBI hits in the second to account for the five-run cushion.
• Emmanuel got on the board in the third without a hit as sophomore catcher Avery Webb (Hollis, N.H.) walked to get things started. She moved into scoring position with another walk by senior outfield Sarah Hoisl (West Hartford, Conn.) and over to third on a Lesley fielding error to load the bases with one out. Sophomore outfielder Maddie Eastman (Methuen, Mass.) drew a four-pitch walk to drive in Webb to cut the deficit to 5-1 before Kara Haga was able to work out of the bases loaded jam and preserve the four-run lead.
• Haga held the Saints hitless through four innings before first year outfielder Julyanne Pacheco (Somerset, Mass.) singled up the middle to lead off the fifth. Sophomore shortstop Renae Lacroix (Cumberland, R.I.) kept the hit party going and two batters later, senior second baseman Kerry Sendrick (Medway, Mass.) delivered a two-RBI triple to right to make it 5-3.
• First year third baseman Maegan Amsler (Hanover, Mass.) led off the sixth with a deep double to center and came around to score on a double down to left by Webb, making it a one-run game at 5-4. Hoisl drove in Webb with a single to left before Eastman collected the go-ahead RBI with a single through the left side to plate Hoisl and move EC on top, 6-5.
• The Lynx threatened in the top of the seventh with a leadoff double by Emily Streight but EC first year hurler Tianna Dawe (Lynn, Mass.) struck out the side to close out her first collegiate victory.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Dawe tossed 4 1/3 scoreless innings in release to pick up the win for Emmanuel, allowing just one hit while striking out six. She becomes the first Emmanuel rookie to win their collegiate debut since Megan Kieselback '19 in 2016.
• Lacroix and Pacheco each finished with two hits while Eastman and Sendrick each collected two RBI. Webb added two runs scored.
• Haga did not factor into the decision, allowing three runs (two earned) on four hits to go along with three strikeouts. Streight suffered the loss surrendering three runs on five hits over 2/3 innings of work.
• The Saints are now 3-1 in their season-opener with this year's senior class.

HOW IT HAPPENED (vs. Bates)

• Emmanuel got off to a great start, scoring four runs on four hits in the second inning. Pacheco opened the scoring with an RBI single to center before Lacroix tallied a bases-clearing double to right center for drive in three and give the Saints an early 4-0 cushion.
• Dawe continued her dominance in the circle for the first three innings, allowing no hits or runs while striking out three before tiring in the fourth.
• The Bobcats capitalized and got on the board with three runs in the frame highlighted by a two-RBI double by Eliza McNulty with two outs to trim the Emmanuel lead to 4-3.
• In the fifth, Janell Sato tied the score at 5-5 with an RBI single to center on a flare.
• Kirsten Pelletier mowed down the Saints in the top of the sixth to keep the momentum with Bates, needing just three pitches to retire the side.
• In the seventh, Sato delivered the game-winner with another RBI single to centerfield to give Bates the 6-5 walk-off victory.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Pelletier picked up the win going the distance and allowing the four runs on four hits, all coming in the second inning, while posting 11 strikeouts.
• EC junior Megan Long (Greenville, R.I.) worked the final three frames for the Saints, allowing two runs on five hits while striking out four in a losing effort.
• Sato was the only player on either team to collect multiple hits in the affair.

UP NEXT

• Emmanuel returns to action tomorrow for Day 2 action of the NTC Spring Games, facing Carroll (Wisconsin) at 4:00 PM followed by a 6:15 PM tilt vs. Carnegie Mellon.