Saints Softball Sweeps Sunday Play vs. Rivier, 10-5 and 8-7

THE BASICS 

Score: 
Game 1: Emmanuel 10 – Rivier 5
Game 2: Emmanuel 8 – Rivier 7 (Final / 8 Inn.)

Records: 
Emmanuel College Saints (9-9, 2-0 GNAC)
Rivier University Raiders (2-12, 0-2 GNAC)

Location: Boston, Mass. – Roberto Clemente Field

Date: Sunday, April 2, 2023

THE LEAD – In Emmanuel's first series of the Great Northeast Athletic Conference schedule, the Saints pulled off a pair of victories, thanks to clutch plays late in both games, sweeping Sunday's doubleheader against Rivier by scores of 10-5 and 8-7.

HOW IT HAPPENED (GAME 1)

• The Saints and Raiders scored runs in each of the first three innings in Sunday's doubleheader in GNAC play, as Rivier took an early 1-0 lead on an RBI single by first-year Christina Panagiotopoulos (Lowell, Mass.) in the top of the first.
• Emmanuel answered back in the bottom half of the inning, first with junior Olivia Conti (Cranston, R.I.) tying the game 1-1 on an infield single that scored sophomore Taylor Chelak (Westborough, Mass.). Two batters later, first-year Christyna Winstead (Uncasville, Conn.) hit a two-run home run, boosting EC to the lead at 3-1.
• Another RBI single in the top of the second for Rivier closed the gap to 3-2, but the Saints responded in the bottom of the inning. With two runners in scoring position, senior Julyanne Pacheco (Somerset, Mass.) doubled to center field, scoring the runners, to give Emmanuel a 5-2 lead.
• Third inning scoring came courtesy of solo home runs by Panagiotopoulos, in the top of the inning, and Winstead, in the bottom of the inning, keeping the EC lead at three runs at 6-3.
• The Raiders closed to within one run in the top of the fifth with Panagiotopoulos striking again, this time with an RBI double to left-center field. Two batters later, first-year Olivia Couto (Fairhaven, Mass.) drove in Panagiotopoulos with an RBI single down the left-field line, cutting the RU deficit to 6-5.
• But a strong bottom of the Saints sixth provided plenty of insurance in the Emmanuel game one win. The Saints went back up two runs thanks to an infield error in the sixth, giving EC a 7-5 lead. Following a walk and sacrifice bunt, Conti stepped to the plate and delivered a three-run homer over the center field fence, putting EC ahead 10-5, their largest lead of the game.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS (GAME 1)

• Four Saints finished with two hits in the opening game of Sunday's doubleheader. Winstead and Conti both went 2-for-4 with three RBI and two runs scored.
• Chelak finished 2-for-2 at the plate to go along with three runs scored. First-year Sammy Hayes (Braintree, Mass.) added a 2-for-3 game with a double in the sixth.
• Senior Tianna Dawe (Lynn, Mass.) pitched 4.2 innings, allowing five runs, four earned, on nine hits, claiming the victory to move to 4-8.
• Panagiotopoulos went 3-for-4 from the plate, including a single, double, and a home run, as well as three RBI.
• Sophomore Courtney Marioles (Hudson, N.H.) batted 2-for-4 with a  pair of singles and one run scored.
• Graduate pitcher Sydney Greeno (Shirley, Mass.) pitched all six innings, allowing 10 runs, eight earned, on 10 hits with the loss dropping her to 0-5 this year.

HOW IT HAPPENED (GAME 2)

• Emmanuel's GNAC sweep on Sunday came as a result of a walk-off win in extra innings. After holding Rivier scoreless in the top of the eighth, Chelak provided an RBI single up the middle, scoring sophomore Amanda Penney (Warwick, R.I.) from third, giving EC an 8-7 victory.
• The extra-inning game two came as a result of a furious, five-run comeback in the bottom of the seventh by the Saints. Emmanuel trailed 7-2 entering the bottom of the frame after Rivier scored two runs in the sixth and three runs in the seventh to take a five-run lead.
• The Emmanuel rally started with three singles that loaded the bases with one out in the inning. Winstead reached on a fielder's choice but with Rivier throwing out an EC runner at home, the Saints were down to their final out.
• Following a walk to senior Maegan Amsler (Hanover, Mass.) that scored a run, cutting the deficit to 7-3, junior Emma Crisafulli (Loudonville, N.H.) stepped to the plate and picked a clutch moment for her first career collegiate home run. With the bases loaded, Crisafulli tied the game with a grand slam to left-center field, capping the five-run EC rally and tying the game at 7-7.
• Couto hit a solo home run in the top of the sixth, giving Rivier a 3-2 lead. An Emmanuel error later in the sixth helped RU to a 4-2 edge. In the top of the next inning, an RBI single by first-year Avry Nelson (Methuen, Mass.), followed by a two-run single for sophomore Kaeleigh Arington (North Reading, Mass.) bumped the Raiders advantage to 7-2.
• First and second inning solo home runs for the Raiders were matched by a fourth inning RBI single for Crisafulli and a fifth inning RBI double by Chelak, that had game two deadlocked at 2-2.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS (GAME 2)

• Crisafulli batted 2-for-3 in the game, including the grand slam and four RBI. Chelak's game-winning single resulted in a 3-for-4 game two for the center fielder.
• Conti and senior Lylah Niederberger (Buzzards Bay, Mass.) batted 2-for-4 and 2-for-2, respectively.
• First-year Madison Hinkley (Somers, Conn.) came on in relief to pitch for EC, going 1.1 innings while earning the victory to move to 1-0.
• Couto, Panagiotopoulos, and Nelson all finished 2-for-4 in the second game of the doubleheader. First-year Kylee Caetano (New Bedford, Mass.) added a 2-for-3 outing at the plate.
• Marioles also appeared in relief as a pitcher for Rivier, coming in to throw 0.2 innings, as the loss drops her to 1-3 on the year.

UP NEXT

• The Saints are back on Tuesday, April 4, traveling to Framingham State for a non-conference doubleheader, starting at 3:00 p.m.
• The Raiders have a quick turnaround, heading back home and welcoming Norwich for a GNAC doubleheader tomorrow, April 3, with games set to begin at 5:00 p.m.