Conti Blasts Walk-Off in 7-6 Win vs. Simmons; SB Splits with Sharks

THE BASICS 

Score: 
Simmons University, 4 vs. Emmanuel College, 1
Emmanuel College, 7, Simmons University, 6

Records: 
Emmanuel Saints (13-11, 5-1 GNAC)
Simmons Sharks (15-11, 3-1 GNAC)

Location: Boston, Mass. – Roberto Clemente Field

Date: Wednesday, April 12, 2023

BOSTON, Mass. – Junior shortstop Olivia Conti (Cranston, R.I.) belted two solo home runs on the night including a walk-off blast in the bottom of the seventh inning of Game 2 to lift Emmanuel College to a 7-6 win over Simmons University in Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) softball action Wednesday evening at Roberto Clemente Field. The Sharks took Game 1 in the twinbill, 4-1, with the lone EC run coming on Conti's HR. 

HOW IT HAPPENED (GM 1)

• Simmons drew first blood with an unearned run in the top of the second to jump out to an early 1-0 advantage before doubling the lead to 2-0 in the third on an RBI triple down the right field line by senior pitcher Maddie Castigliego (Bristol, R.I.).
• EC cut the deficit in half in the bottom half of the frame on a solo blast to left center by Conti to make it 2-1.
• The Sharks added two huge insurance runs in the fifth to bump the lead to 4-1. Both runs were also unearned as Shannon McMahon (El Cajon, Calif.) and Castigliego collected RBIs in the frame.
• EC threatened in the bottom of the seventh, loading the bases with no outs but a sharp defensive play to turn two followed by a punch out to end the action to give Simmons the 4-1 GNAC North win.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS (GM 1)

• The Saints outhit the Sharks, 7-5 in the loss as Tianna Dawe (Lynn, Mass.) was a tough-luck loser in the circle. The senior allowed the four runs (one earned) on five hits while striking out five to drop to 5-10 on the year.
• Castigliego earned the win going the distance, scattering seven hits to go with a season-high 11 K's. She became the new All-Time wins leader for Simmons softball with 55 career wins. 
• EC sophomore Sammy Hayes (Braintree, Mass.) went 2-for-3 at the plate to pace the Saints while Simmons first year shortstop Leah Connor (Broomfield, Colo.) also collected two hits with a 2-for-4 showing.
• The home run for Conti was her 19^th career blast, moving her into second all-time on the career HR list at Emmanuel past Yuleska Ramirez-Tejeda '20 who had 18 over her two+ playing seasons with the Saints.

HOW IT HAPPENED (GM 2)

• Conti's walk-off home run was her second career walk-off, the first also coming against the Sharks last season in GNAC tournament.  She led off the seventh and delivered the deep blast to right centerfield for her 20^th career home run to lift EC to the 7-6 win.
• Sophomore outfielder Taylor Chelak (Westborough, Mass.) delivered a two-out RBI double in the bottom of the sixth inning to break a 5-5 tie and plate Dawe for the go-ahead run to give EC a 6-5 lead. The Saints led 5-0 before the Sharks rallied to even the score late in the action.
• Simmons got the run back in the top of the seventh to once again even the score at 6-6 on an RBI single to right by first year Teagan Buckley (Barrington, R.I.) before Conti's seventh-inning heroics.
• Emmanuel reset and got out to a quick start in Game 2, plating three runs in the first to take and hold the lead for the remainder of the night. Senior Maegan Amsler (Hanover, Mass.) belted a two-RBI double to right-center to make it 2-0. She came around to score to move the lead to 3-0 thanks to a Simmons miscue.
• Amsler picked up another RBI in the third with an RBI groundout giving the Saints a 4-0 cushion. Later in the frame, senior outfielder Lylah Niederberger (Buzzards Bay, Mass.) picked up an RBI on a sac fly to plate Conti to give the hosts a 5-0 advantage.
• Simmons got three back in the fifth on a three-run shot to left by sophomore Raya Anderson (Rollinsford, N.H.). The home run was the first of her collegiate career to pull the Sharks back to within striking distance at 5-3.
• After the blast, EC first year pitcher Mackenzie Briggs (West Warwick, R.I.) regrouped and retired the side in the fifth to preserve the two-run lead heading into the late innings.
• A two-RBI double in the sixth by Connor tied the score at 5-5 and chased Briggs from the game. On in relief, Dawe picked up a clutch third out of the inning on a big strikeout to strand Connor in scoring position.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS (GM 2)

• Conti was 2-for-3 with the HR and three runs scored.
• Amsler finished the game going 2-for-3 with three RBI and a run scored.
• Along with scoring a run in the sixth, Dawe worked the final four outs to pick up a win in relief.
• Piper Kinney (Marlborough, Mass.) suffered the loss for Simmons and moves to 5-4 on the season.

UP NEXT

• Both teams return to action on Saturday, April 15 at 12:00 & 2:00 PM. The Sharks host University of Hartford at Daly Field while the Saints travel to West Hartford, Conn. to take on University of Saint Joseph.