Softball Sweeps Saturday Doubleheader at Albertus Magnus, 4-1 and 3-0

THE BASICS 

Score: 
Game 1: Emmanuel 4 – Albertus Magnus 1
Game 2: Emmanuel 3 – Albertus Magnus 0

Records: 
Emmanuel College Saints (18-14, 6-2 GNAC North)
Albertus Magnus College Falcons (19-17, 7-3 GNAC South)

Location: New Haven, Conn. – Shea Complex

Date: Saturday, April 22, 2023

THE LEAD – After splitting their last four doubleheaders, the Emmanuel Saints softball program finally earned a doubleheader sweep, coming on Saturday afternoon at Albertus Magnus, following wins of 4-1 and 3-0.

HOW IT HAPPENED (GAME 1)

• Saints senior Tianna Dawe (Lynn, Mass.) was a dual threat in game one of Saturday's doubleheader, going all seven innings in the pitching circle while providing all four runs for the Saints offense in the victory.
• The Falcons were first on the board in the bottom of the first, taking what would be their only lead of the game. With runners on second and third and one out, Albertus Magnus senior Peyton Davis (North Haven, Conn.) singled up the middle, scoring the runner from third, giving AMC a 1-0 lead. The Falcons failed to take advantage of the early baserunners, as a strikeout and flyout ended the inning.
• The top of the second started with a lead-off double by senior Maegan Amsler (Hanover, Mass.) and a walk for sophomore Madison Marks (Edgewater Park, N.J.), that put two runners on. Two batters later, Dawe stepped in and on a full count, hit a three-run shot to left field, giving Emmanuel a 3-1 lead.
• Despite the Falcons putting runners on in the third, fourth, and fifth innings, Dawe and the Saints would hold strong, keeping AMC off the scoreboard and maintaining a 3-1 lead. Albertus Magnus left five runners on base in the three-inning span, including three in scoring position.
• Dawe helped her cause again in the top of the sixth, scoring Amsler from third on an RBI single to center field, boosting the EC lead to 4-1. The Falcons could only manage one runner in the final two innings as Emmanuel claimed the 4-1 victory.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS (GAME 1)

• Dawe finished the game 2-for-3 from the plate, including her first home run of the season. Dawe matched a career-high with four RBI. In the circle, the senior right-hander went seven innings, allowing one earned run on eight hits while striking out five. The victory lifts Dawe to 9-12.
• Amsler, Marks, and sophomore Taylor Chelak (Westborough, Mass.) all had a double in the win. Amsler added two runs scored in the opening game.
• All eight hits for the Falcons were singles, led by senior Janelle Franklin (Middletown, Conn.), who finished 3-for-4 at the plate while being AMCs lone run scored.
• First-year Emilee Bishop (East Haven, Conn.) also went all seven innings for the Falcons, allowing four earned runs on seven hits to go with three strikeouts. The first-year pitcher drops to 2-3 with the loss.

HOW IT HAPPENED (GAME 2)

• Game two started as a battle for offense as the Saints were no-hit through the first four innings while the Falcons managed just two hits in their first four innings. AMC first-year Annabelle Jabs (East Hartford, Conn.) and EC first-year Madison Hinkley (Somers, Conn.) were locked in a pitching duel that held both teams off the board through four innings.
• Breaking up the no-hitter would inevitably lead to ending the scoreless game in the top of the fifth as the Saints grabbed a 2-0 lead. Jabs retired the first two Emmanuel batters but a single by first-year Emely Rodriguez (Lynn, Mass.) ended the no-hit bid and a walk to Hinkley put two runners on.
• Senior Lylah Niederberger (Buzzards Bay, Mass.) fired an RBI single up the middle, getting Emmanuel on the board with a 1-0 lead. Chelak stepped in next with an RBI single of her own into right-center, scoring Hinkley and giving the Saints a 2-0 edge.
• Emmanuel added to their advantage in the sixth with another RBI single, this time off the bat of junior Emma Crisafulli (Loudonville, N.Y.) into left-center, growing the lead to 3-0.
• Albertus Magnus had their best chance in the bottom of the sixth, loading the bases after three straight walks surrendered by Hinkley. With two outs, a Saints pitching change to Dawe paid off, as the senior forced a groundout, getting EC out of the jam and maintaining the three-run lead.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS (GAME 2)

• Six different batters managed a hit for the Saints in the game two win, all coming by way of a single. Crisafulli was 1-for-2, Niederberger was 1-for-3, and Chelak finished 1-for-4. The trio of Saints all had an RBI.
• Hinkley pitched 5.2 innings, allowing just three hits. Dawe came in for the final 1.1 innings, holding AMC hitless in the final four outs. Hinkley improves to 2-1 with the win as Dawe picks up her first save of the year.
• Falcons senior Breanna Saldivar (Middletown, Conn.) batted 2-for-4 with a pair of doubles while senior Angelina Ramada (North Branford, Conn.) was 1-for-3, accounting for all three AMC hits in game two.
• Jabs pitched seven innings for Albertus Magnus, allowing three runs, all earned, on six hits to go with a career-high nine strikeouts. Despite the strong outing, Jabs falls to 5-4 in the loss.

UP NEXT

• The Saints head back out of conference in their next appearance, returning to play with a trip to Wheaton College on Tuesday, April 25, with the doubleheader starting at 3:30 p.m.
• The Falcons are back on Wednesday, April 26, traveling to Regis for a doubleheader, starting at 4:30 p.m.