Softball Starts Key GNAC Stretch With Doubleheader Sweep at Simmons

BRIGHTON, Mass. – Emmanuel College softball (18-12, 11-1 GNAC) traveled to rival Simmons (12-21, 8-6 GNAC) and swept the Sharks in a Wednesday doubleheader in Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) North Division action on Daly Field.

GAME 1: Emmanuel 3, Simmons 1 – 8 innings

In fitting fashion between the two rivals the first game of the twin-billing went into extra frames. The Sharks struck first in the bottom of the second as sophomore right-hander Piper Kinney helped her own cause, driving in classmate Teagan Buckley with an opposite field singe.

However, the Saints were able to even the score a half inning later. Taking advantage of a lead-off walk followed by a pair of wild pitches Emmanuel had a runner at third and only one out. Kinney got Amanda Penney to ground out to third, but in the back door came Madeline Parrish to tie the game at 1-1.

From there the game became a pitcher's duel between two of the top pitchers in the conference, Kinney and Madison Marks. Kinney remained dominant and took a no-hit bid into the top of the six before giving up a two-out double to straight away centerfield by Taylor Chelak. But retired Alexis Martineau on strikes to end the inning. 

The ballgame remained locked at 1-1 until extra frames when the Saints pushed across a pair of runs. In the home half of the eighth, the Sharks had junior Raya Anderson on second then advanced 60 feet swiping third, but Simmons was unable to bring her in. 

Tossing a two-hitter, Kinney tied her career single-game best for the third time this season, striking out 14 Saints in her 22^nd complete game of the season. Marks improved to 9-7 on the season while striking out a career-high 12.

GAME 2: Emmanuel 5, Simmons 3

The Sharks struck first in game two, taking advantage of a Saints throwing error in the infield that allowed sophomore Teagan Buckley to scamper home with the game's first run. But it was a short-lived lead, the Saints pushed across a pair of runs a half inning later to take a 2-1 lead.

Emmanuel senior Olivia Conti opened the top of the third beating out an infield single, then advanced to second on a heads-up play. However, Simmons sophomore right-hander Ally Hyde settled down, sitting down the next three Saints batters to minimize the damage.

The Saints added two their lead an inning later. Sending nine batters to the plate, they pushed a cross another three runs to extend the lead to four, 5-1. However, the Sharks answered scoring a pair of runs in the home half to cut the deficit to two, 5-3.

Junior Leah Berdeen led of the inning roping a double down the left field line then moved up 60 feet on a wild pitch. Two batters later following walk to Hyde, sophomore Emily Deleault drove in Berdeen with the Sharks second run of the game. Simmons was not done. Following two-out single by Anderson, Hyde came in to score the third Sharks run a Saints outfield throwing error. But it was as close as they would get as the Saints hung on to the two-run, 5-3, win.

UP NEXT
Simmons will close out the regular season on Saturday, April 27 when they travel to Johnson & Wales. First pitch at noon. Emmanuel takes a trip to Saint Joseph's College of Maine for a doubleheader starting at 12:00 p.m. in a pair of games between the GNAC North's top-two teams.

**Portions of this release courtesy Simmons Athletic Communications Office