Long Wins First Collegiate Game in Circle in 8-4 Win vs. Monmouth

CLERMONT, Fla. – The Emmanuel College softball team posted an 8-4 victory over Monmouth College (Ill.) before falling to Montclair State University, 7-1, in Day 4 action of the NTC Spring Games in Clermont, Fla.

THE BASICS 

Score: 
Emmanuel College, 8; Monmouth College (Ill.), 4
Emmanuel College, 1, Montclair State Univ., 7
Records: 
Emmanuel College Saints (3-5, 0-0 GNAC)
Monmouth College Scots (1-7, 0-0 MWC)
Montclair State Univ. Red Hawks (10-0, 0-0 NJAC)
Location: Clermont, Fla. – Legends Way
Date: Thursday, March 12, 2020

HOW IT HAPPENED (vs. Monmouth)

• Following three scoreless innings, the squads traded runs in the fourth to a 2-2 score as senior Yuleska Ramirez-Tejeda (Cambridge, Mass.) continued her gaudy start to the year with a two-RBI triple to right center to get EC on the board.
• Emmanuel took the lead for good in the fifth inning, plating four runs to go ahead 6-2. The big blow again came on a two-RBI triple by Ramirez-Tejeda to drive in sophomore Grace Orcutt (Lexington, Mass.) and senior Kerry Sendrick (Medway, Mass.).
• The Scots got one back in the bottom of the fifth on an RBI single by Laura Dulee to cut the lead to 6-3 and then in the sixth, Katie Droste's sacrifice fly to right made it a two-run game at 6-4. The Scots looked to do more damage in the frame and loaded the bases but junior Megan Long (Greenville, R.I.) worked out of the jam to preserve the 6-4 cushion.
• EC added two insurance runs in the seventh on a sac fly by first year third baseman Maegan Amsler (Hanover, Mass.) and another RBI hit by Ramirez-Tejeda to account for the 8-4 final.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Long earned the win going the distance allowing four runs on seven hits while striking out two for her first collegiate pitching victory.
• Ramirez-Tejeda finished the game going 4-for-4 with five RBI.
• Sendrick scored two runs in the win as did first year outfielder Julyanne Pacheco (Somerset, Mass.).

HOW IT HAPPENED (vs. Montclair St.)

• The Red Hawks scored in the first and third as Amber Powers reached base to start each inning and came around to score the first two runs for Montclair State.
• MSU extended the lead to 5-0 in the fifth with three more runs on RBI hits by Kayla Gallow, Valentina Cucci and Amber Reed.
• The rout continued in the sixth as Blake Saperstein and Elena Radesich added RBI hits for Montclair State to move their lead to 7-0.
• Emmanuel spoiled the shutout with a run in the seventh as sophomore shortstop Renae Lacroix (Cumberland, R.I.) singled to centerfield to drive home freshman Lylah Niederberger (Buzzards Bay, Mass.) who reached base safely in her first collegiate at-bat, accounting for the 7-1 final.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• EC first year pitcher Tianna Dawe (Lynn, Mass.) suffered the loss and falls to 2-2 on the season.
• Riara Ruiz registered the win going six innings and allowing just one run on four hits while striking out eight to move to 4-0 on the week for MSU.
• Lacroix was the only Saint to finish the game with multiple hits going 2-4 at the plate. Ramirez-Tejeda, sophomore catcher Avery Webb (Hollis, N.H.), junior Kaitlin Bouchard (South Portland, Maine) and senior Sarah Hoisl (West Hartford, Conn.) all added hits on the day for Emmanuel.

UP NEXT

• Emmanuel is back for Day 5 of the NTC Spring Games on Friday, March 13 for action vs. Wittenberg at 9:00 AM and North Park at 11:45 AM.