JWU Tops Saints in Key GNAC Softball Tourney Showdown, 5-3

THE BASICS 

#1N Emmanuel College, 3
#2S Johnson & Wales Univ.,  5

Records: 
Emmanuel Saints (25-11)
Johnson & Wales Wildcats (35-6)

Location: Boston, Mass. – Roberto Clemente Field

Date: Saturday, May 7, 2022

THE LEAD: Johnson & Wales University took advantage of three Emmanuel miscues en route to a 5-3 win on Saturday afternoon in a key showdown of the 2022 Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Softball tournament at Roberto Clemente Field.

HOW IT HAPPENED  

• JWU opened the scoring with an unearned run in the second to take an early 1-0 lead before bumping the lead to 3-0 in the third on a two-run blast by senior Kaelani Gamble (Vancouver, Wash.).
• The Saints answered in the fourth with three runs to even the score at 3-3 with all the damage coming with two outs. First year outfielder Abigail Farr (Windsor Locks, Conn.) doubled home the first run and came around to score on an RBI single up the middle by senior third baseman Renae Lacroix (Cumberland, R.I.) to make it 3-2. After stealing second, Lacroix came around to tie the score on an RBI single up the middle by junior outfielder Jadynne Hill (Haverhill, Mass.) to lock the score at 3-all.
• Johnson & Wales pushed across two more unearned runs in the fifth to break the deadlock. Senior Jill Pulek (Cheshire, Conn.) drove in the game-winning run on an RBI groundout and the Wildcats added an insurance run as sophomore Julia Huzi (Trumbull, Conn.) scampered home while Gamble got caught in a rundown, scoring before the final out of the inning occurred to make it 5-3.
• Emmanuel made some noise in the seventh, putting the tying runners on base but first year pitcher Kathleen Scheid (Hightstown, N.J.) worked out of the jam to preserve the two-run victory for JWU.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS 

• Scheid earned the win in relief, tossing 3.1 innings and allowing two runs on five hits while striking out one to improve to 8-3 on the year. She relieved fellow first year Mackenzie Clee (Warminster, Penn.) who threw well before taking a line drive off the shin in the fourth to chase her from the game after surrendering just one hit.
• EC junior Tianna Dawe (Peabody, Mass.) suffered the loss and rops to 14-6 on the year allowing the five runs (two earned) on five hits while recording one K.
• Farr and Gamble were the sole players for each squad to finish the game with multiple hits.
• With the win, JWU also knots the all-time series at 24-24 for both squads in 48 career meetings.                                                                       

UP NEXT

• Emmanuel will move to the elimination bracket finals and take on the winner of the Simmons University vs. Saint Joseph's College (ME) elimination game taking place later today. First pitch of the elimination final is scheduled for 10:00 AM on Sunday, May 8.
• JWU moves on to the GNAC Championship series and will take on the winner of the elimination game finale at 12:30 PM tomorrow. The Wildcats will have two shots to capture the GNAC crown.