Softball Rallies to Pick Up 4-3 Win in Game 2 vs. UMass Boston

BOSTON, Mass. - The Emmanuel College softball program salvaged a non-conference split Friday afternoon thanks to a seventh inning rally in Game 2 vs. UMass Boston, propelling the Saints to a 4-3 win in the second leg of the afternoon twinbill on the harborside campus. The Beacons took Game 1 by a 5-1 final, breaking a 1-1 tie with four unanswered runs to close out the contest before EC snuck away with the Game 2 victory.

Softball Rallies to Pick Up 4-3 Win in Game 2 vs. UMass Boston
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Team Stats

March 24, 2023

THE BASICS 
Score:
G1 – UMass Boston, 5 vs. Emmanuel College, 1
G2 – Emmanuel College, 4 vs. UMass Boston, 3

Records: 
Emmanuel Saints (7-7, 0-0 GNAC)
UMass Boston Beacons (10-3, 0-0 LEC)

Location: Boston, Mass. – UMass Boston Softball Field

Date: Friday, March 24, 2023

THE LEAD – The Emmanuel College softball program salvaged a non-conference split Friday afternoon thanks to a seventh inning rally in Game 2 vs. UMass Boston, propelling the Saints to a 4-3 win in the second leg of the afternoon twinbill on the harborside campus. The Beacons took Game 1 by a 5-1 final, breaking a 1-1 tie with four unanswered runs to close out the contest before EC snuck away with the Game 2 victory.

HOW IT HAPPENED (G1)

  • Another strong performance by UMB junior pitcher Bri Melchionda in the circle and at the plate helped the Beacons take game one of the doubleheader. Sophomore catcher Kaitlyn Sawyer plated the first run of the afternoon for UMass Boston on an RBI infield single in the second which was matched by the Saints on an error by senior catcher Tam Landry in the third inning to tie the game at one.
  • Freshman outfielder Sofie Richland, who was 3-for-4 in game one with an RBI and stolen base, got the go-ahead run home on a single to right field in the fourth inning.
  • Junior infielder Lauryn Bethea tacked on another run on an RBI groundout in the fifth before Melchionda delivered the big blow in the sixth inning with a two-run double to extended the Beacon advantage to the eventual 5-1 final score.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS (G1)

  • In the circle, Melchionda went the distance and allowed just one run (unearned) on three hits while walking five and striking out four.
  • EC sophomore outfielder Taylor Chelak (Westborough, Mass.) collected all three hits for the Saints in a 3-for-4 showing while senior first baseman Maegan Amsler (Hanover, Mass.) drew a pair of walks.
  • Tianna Dawe (Lynn, Mass.) suffered the setback to fall to 3-7 on the year, working 6.0 innings and allowing the five runs on 13 hits while striking out three.

HOW IT HAPPENED (G2)

  • Amsler started the scoring for the Saints with an RBI single in the opening frame against junior pitcher Emily Doble before senior infielder Lylah Niederberger (Buzzards Bay, Mass.) tacked on another run in the second inning to extend the Emmanuel College lead to two runs, 2-0.
  • Lauryn Bethea pulled the Beacons even in the fourth inning with her two-run double followed up by an RBI single from Sofie Richland which capped off a stretch of three unanswered runs for UMass Boston in the fourth to reclaim the lead, 3-2.
  • With their backs to the walls, a leadoff double from junior shortstop Olivia Conti (Cranston, R.I.) helped the Saints rally in the seventh inning when a sacrifice bunt from Niederberger pushed home Conti to tie the game up at three. Three consecutive singles with two outs for the Saints against Doble helped them take a 4-3 lead, but the Beacons would not go away quietly.
  • UMass Boston would get first and second with two outs in the bottom half of the inning with a chance to tie the game or take the lead, but a swinging strikeout by freshman infielder Lauren Miner ended the game, giving the Beacons a doubleheader split for the afternoon.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS (G2)

  • EC first year Mackenzie Briggs (West Warwick, R.I.) went the distance to pick up the victory and improve to 4-0 on the season, scattering nine hits to go along with eight K's and a gutsy final inning for the win.
  • Amsler, Conti, Niederberger and senior Julyanne Pacheco (Somerset, Mass.) all registered two hits in the victory. Amsler and Niederberger each drove in a pair of runs in the win while Conti plated two.
  • Doble took the UMB loss to drop to 3-3, surrendering the four runs (three earned) over 6.2 innings of work.

UP NEXT

  • The Saints are back in the Fenway on Sunday, March 26 to take on Wentworth at 1:00 & 3:00 PM for their final non-conference tune-up before GNAC action begins the following weekend.
  • UMass Boston hits the road for a pair of doubleheaders, starting with one against Suffolk University next Thursday at 3:00 and 5:00 PM against the Rams. The two teams split their doubleheader last season with the Beacons winning 11-7 in game one before dropping game two, 12-1 at home.

*Some release content provided courtesy of UMB Athletic Communications office