Saints Softball Sweeps Sunday Doubleheader With Run-Rule Wins Over Elms

BOSTON – Emmanuel softball improved to 11-11 (5-1 GNAC) after claiming a pair of run-rule wins on Sunday afternoon, sweeping a Great Northeast Athletic Conference doubleheader with Elms College (3-21, 0-6 GNAC) on Clemente Field.

GAME ONE: Emmanuel 11 – Elms 3 (Final/6)

The Saints offense started strong in game one, batting around the lineup and plating six in the bottom of the first. Senior Sammy Hayes (Braintree, Mass.) and first-year Alexis Martineau (Merrimack, N.H.) had back-to-back RBI singles, giving Emmanuel a 2-0 lead.

After a walk loaded the bases, senior Emma Crisafulli (Loudonville, N.Y.) stepped in a delivered a grand slam, the first of her collegiate career, flying over the center field fence, lifting the Saints to a 6-0 lead.

Another RBI single for Martineau in the third boosted the Emmanuel lead to 7-0, before the Blazers got on the board in the top of the fourth. Senior Josie Cammarata (Wolcott, Conn.) knocked an RBI double to left, breaking up the Saints shutout. Three batters later, junior Danajah Stokes (Savannah, Ga.) knocked a two-run single up the middle, cutting the deficit to 7-3.

The score remained 7-3 until the bottom of the sixth, kicking in the run-rule win for the Saints. After a Taylor Chelak (Westborough, Mass.) single, senior Olivia Conti (Cranston, R.I.) homered to center field, giving the Saints a 10-3 lead. After a Martineau single, a Blazers error, and a pass ball moved Martineau to third, Crisafulli hit a sacrifice fly to deep center, easily scoring Martineau for an 11-3 win.

Martineau was a perfect 4-for-4 at the plate, all singles, while adding three RBI and two runs scored. Crisafulli finished 2-for-3, including her second home run of the season while matching a career-high with five RBI. Hayes and Chelak both had a pair of hits with one double for Hayes. First-year MeKayla Poisson (Peabody, Mass.) earned her first career win, pitching three innings and allowing three runs on seven hits.

Cammarata and junior Sarah Fortini (Flordia, Mass.) both finished 2-for-3, each hitting a double. Cammarata added an RBI and one run scored. First-year pitcher Jill Dykema (Preston, Mass.) took the loss, going four innings while allowing eight runs, six earned.

GAME TWO: Emmanuel 20 – Elms 4 (Final/5)

The Blazers were out to the quick lead in the top of the first as back-to-back, two-out singles put two runners on as Dykema stepped in. The rookie Blazers hit a three-run home run over the left field fence, giving Elms a 3-0 lead.

The Saints responded in the bottom of the inning with five of their own, starting with a two-run single by first-year Mia Fernandes (Taunton, Mass.). After Fernandes stole second, putting two runners in scoring position, Crisafulli knocked home a pair with a single to center field, giving Emmanuel a 4-3 lead. Crisafulli later scored on an Elms error, helping the Saints to a 5-3 lead.

Another three runs came in the bottom of the second for the Saints with a two-run home run to center field by Conti and an RBI fielder's choice for Fernandes, upping the lead to 8-3.

The game broke open for Emmanuel in the third, plating nine runs to take command of game two. In the inning, the Saints finished with nine runs, eight hits, and left the bases loaded, but took a 17-4 edge. Included in the hits, a two-run double for Chelak and RBI singles for Hayes, Fernandes, and Crisafulli.

Saints junior Madison Marks (Edgewater Park, N.J.) added to the Saints scoring in the bottom of the fourth with a pinch-hit, two-run home run to left-center, adding to the Emmanuel advantage, on the way to the 20-4 victory.

Conti finished 3-for-3 with three RBI and three runs scored to go along with her team-leading fifth home run of the season. Fernandes and Crisafulli added two-hit games while Fernandes chipped in a career-high four RBI. Junior Mackenzie Briggs (West Warwick, R.I.) pitched all five innings, moving to 5-4 in the win.

Cammarata ended game two batting 2-for-3 with a pair of singles. Dykema batted 1-for-2 including her first career collegiate home run in the first. First-year Kaelyn Zakaitis (Amherst, Mass.) pitched two innings for the Blazers but falls to 2-10 in the loss.

The Saints return to play on Tuesday, April 16, with a doubleheader at Wheaton, starting at 3:00 p.m. The Blazers return to play on Wednesday, April 17, hosting Lasell for a GNAC doubleheader, starting at 3:00 p.m.