Saints Top Blue Jays in Strong Game 1 Showing, 5-2

WEST HARTFORD, Conn. – Emmanuel College picked up a 5-2 win over the University of Saint Joseph (CT) Saturday afternoon in the opening game of a doubleheader played at the USJ Softball Field in West Hartford, Conn. The Blue Jays rallied to avoid the sweep with an 8-7 walk-off win in Game 2 of the twinbill.

Saints Top Blue Jays in Strong Game 1 Showing, 5-2
Box Score

Team Stats

April 15, 2023

THE BASICS 

Score: 
Emmanuel College, 5 vs. Univ. of Saint Joseph, 2
Univ. of Saint Joseph, 8 vs. Emmanuel College, 7

Records: 
Emmanuel Saints (14-12, 5-1 GNAC)
USJ Blue Jays (15-14, 3-3 GNAC)

Location: West Hartford, Conn. – USJ Field

Date: Saturday, April 15, 2023

HOW IT HAPPENED (GM 1)

  • Trailing 2-0 heading into the third, the Saints took the lead for good thanks to a two-RBI single by senior Maegan Amsler (Hanover, Mass.). Amsler delivered the clutch hit with the bases loaded; driving in a pair and the third runner came in to score thanks to a USJ miscue to give the Saints a 3-2 lead.
  • Amsler did it again in the fifth, belted a two-RBI double to left to drive in junior shortstop Olivia Conti (Cranston, R.I.) and senior outfielder Julyanne Pacheco (Somerset, Mass.) to make it 5-2.
  • Senior Tianna Dawe (Lynn, Mass.) got stronger as the game went on, retiring a stretch of 16 straight from the second into the seventh to pick up the win.
  • USJ jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first on an RBI double to left by Jenna Masiello (Cromwell, Conn.) before doubling the lead to 2-0 on an RBI single to center by Kelsie LaHouse (Coventry, Conn.) before Dawe and Amsler took over.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS (GM 1)

  • Dawe moves to 7-10 on the year, scattering three hits over 7.0 innings and recording six K's.
  • Amsler enjoyed a 2-for-4 performance at the plate with a season-high four RBI while sophomore outfielder Taylor Chelak (Westborough, Mass.) went 2-for-3 with a run scored.
  • Conti drew two walks and scored twice in the win.
  • USJ first year Kaitlyn Ouellette (Wolcott, Conn.) suffered the loss for the Blue Jays, surrendering the five runs (four earned) on six hits while recording six strikeouts.  

HOW IT HAPPENED (GM 2)

  • USJ broke a 7-7 tie thanks to an Emmanuel throwing error in the bottom of the seventh to walk off with the 8-7 comeback win over the Saints.
  • Following multiple weather delays, EC put up five runs in the top of the sixth inning to take a 7-4 lead. First year Christyna Winstead (Uncasville, Conn.) drew a walk with the bags juiced to pull the Saints within a run at 4-3 before Pacheco tripled to center to clear the bases and give Emmanuel its first lead of the game at 6-4. She came in to score an insurance run on a wild pitch to give the visitors a 7-4 cushion heading into the bottom half of the sixth.
  • The Blue Jays answered, immediately plating three to tie the score at 7-all. Junior Isabel Milardo (Middlefield, Conn.) and sophomore Alyssa Roberts (Naugatuck, Conn.) each connected on RBI doubles and sophomore Brianna Catalani (Watertown, Conn.) delivered the game-tying drive with a single up the middle to knock in the seventh USJ run.
  • Both squads were active in the early innings. USJ pushed three across in the first highlighted by a two-RBI double by Catalani to give the hosts a 3-0 lead.
  • EC first year pitcher Mackenzie Briggs (West Warwick, R.I.) helped her cause in the second with a solo shot to get the Saints on the board at 3-1 before senior Lylah Niederberger (Buzzards Bay, Mass.) doubled down the left field line to drive in Winstead to pull the Saints within a run at 3-2.
  • The hosts doubled the lead to 4-2 in the bottom of the second on an RBI single from Jenna Zup (Berlin, Conn,.) before the action slowed down with the weather until the late inning fireworks.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

  • Zup, Milardo and Roberts all finished the game with two hits, one run and one RBI.
  • Conti and sophomore catcher Sammy Hayes (Braintree, Mass.) both had three hits in the game for the Saints while Pacheco finished with a 2-for-4 showing with three RBI.
  • Roberts earned the win for the Blue Jays in a gutsy performance, going the distance and recording five K's to improve to 7-5 on the year.
  • On in relief after the delay, Dawe suffered the setback for Emmanuel to drop to 7-11 in the circle.
  • First year Madison Hinkley (Somers, Conn.) was strong in a long relief outing, going 3.1 innings allowing no runs and just two hits for Emmanuel.

UP NEXT

  • Both teams return to action tomorrow, Sunday April 16 on their home turf for GNAC Divisional action. The Saints take on Saint Joseph's College (ME) at 11:00 AM while the Blue Jays host Dean College at noon.