Briggs Lifts Saints in 4-2 Victory vs. Bluffton

THE BASICS 
Emmanuel College, 4 vs. Bluffton Univ., 2

Records: 
Emmanuel Saints (4-2, 0-0 GNAC)
Bluffton Beavers (4-3, AMCC)

Location: Winter Haven, Fla.

Date: Thursday, March 9, 2023

THE LEAD – First year Mackenzie Briggs (West Warwick, R.I.) tossed her second straight complete game win while also providing some offensive firepower to lift the Emmanuel College softball team past Bluffton University, 4-2, Thursday afternoon in Day 3 action of The Spring Games in Winter Haven, Fla.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Trailing 2-0 through three innings of action, the Saints erupted for a four run fourth to take the lead for good in a well-played game by both sides. The first six batters for Emmanuel reached in the inning highlighted by a two-RBI double from Briggs with the bases juiced to even the score at 2-2. Sophomore catcher Sammy Hayes (Braintree, Mass.) kept the hit party alive with an RBI single to right center to drive in sophomore Amanda Penney () to make it 3-2 before first year third baseman Christyna Winstead (Uncasville, Conn.) singled to center, plating Briggs to bump the EC lead to 4-2. Emmanuel had the Beavers on the ropes in the frame but Bluffton was able to induce a double-play to get out of the frame surrendering just the four runs to stay within striking distance.
• Over the final four innings in the circle, Briggs never faced more than four batters in any frame and the EC defensive unit backed her up to close out the 4-2 win under the afternoon sun.
• The Beavers struck first with a pair of runs in the third on a two-RBI single to left center by senior catcher Bobbi Adams (Delaware, Ohio) to jump ahead early 2-0. Adams came up with one out and the bases loaded and delivered with a bullet to the gap to plate sophomore Kayleigh Michael (Eaton, Ohio) and junior Kryshel Dales (Defiance, Ohio) who reached via walks.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Briggs improves to 3-0 on the year scattering six hits over the seven innings and striking out six including the side in the second inning. She also went 1-for-3 at the plate with two RBI and scored the final run of the afternoon.
• Winstead capped off a productive day going 2-for-3 with an RBI, combining to go 4-for-6 with three RBI in the two Emmanuel wins on the day.
• EC junior shortstop Olivia Conti (Cranston, R.I.) posted her first multi-hit game of the campaign and 25^th of her career going 2-for-4 with a run scored.
• Adams was the only Beaver with multiple hits in the contest with a 2-for-3 showing.
• BU senior pitcher Erin Norman (Pleasant Hill, Ohio) suffered the loss working seven innings and allowing four runs (three earned) on seven hits while striking out three to suffer her first loss of the year and fall to 3-1 overall.

UP NEXT

• Emmanuel returns tomorrow afternoon in more action at The Spring Games, facing Catholic University at 2:00 PM at the Auburndale Sports Complex facilities.
• Bluffton has a quick turnaround with a 4:30 PM game later today vs. Penn State Brandywine.