SOFTBALL TEAM GRABS ONE WIN IN A PAIR OF 5-2 CONTESTS

BOSTON, Mass. – The Emmanuel College Softball Team hosted Rivier University on Tuesday night in a pair of make-up games played under the lights at Roberto Clemente Field.  The host Saints took the opening game, 5-2, before dropping the nightcap by the same score.  With the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) split, Emmanuel now stands at 5-9 on the season and 2-2 in the league. Rivier moves to 3-7 overall and 1-1 in GNAC play.

Game 1: Emmanuel 5, Rivier 2

The Raiders took an early lead in game one with Nicole Peacock (Warwick, R.I.) reaching on a walk and scoring on a series of Emmanuel miscues.  The Saints quickly redeemed themselves in the bottom of the side, as Jennifer Garrity (Lynn, Mass.) ripped a two RBI double, which scored Catherine Davis (Wethersfield, Conn.) and Kelly Lloid (Issaquah, Wash.) and the Saints held a 2-1 lead after one.

The second inning was a scoreless one, before Riv tied things up in the third.  Peacock doubled and was driven in by Marissa Mercier (N. Smithfield, R.I.).  The Saints opened the bottom half of the inning up with a pair of singles by Kayla Howard (Belmont, N.H.) and Alex Bressette (North Easton, Mass.).  Freshman Marianne Halas (Lynn, Mass.) was then hit by a pitch to load the bases with one out.  Howard stole home for what would hold up as the game-winning run, before Kerianne Vulpis (East Rockaway, N.Y.) hit an RBI single, which scored Bressette and Emmanuel led, 4-2.

The fourth and fifth were scoreless innings, despite two more singles from Howard and Bressette, as well as a double by Davis.  The Saints tacked on an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth, which began with a single by Garrity. Senior right-fielder Jackie Murray (Saugus, Mass.) came in to run for Garrity, stole second and advanced to third.  Murray was then driven in by Bressette's third hit of the game and Emmanuel took a 5-2 lead.

The Saints were able to hold off a late run by the Raiders, who put runners on first and second with consecutive two-out singles.  With the tying run at the plate, Lloid struck out her seventh Rivier batter of the night and Emmanuel came away with the 5-2 win.

Bressette led the Saints with a trio of singles, while Garrity added two singles and a pair of RBI.  Howard and Davis both went 2 for 3 at the plate in the win.  Lloid earned her third victory of the season, improving to 3-3.  The senior pitcher fanned seven and gave up 6 hits with just one earned run.

Freshman pitcher Taylor Miller (Haverhill, Mass.) took the loss in the circle for the Raiders, giving up four earned runs through two and a third innings.  Miller was relieved by classmate Libby Sammon (Rockland, Mass.) for the final three and two thirds innings.  Each gave up five hits and combined for two strikeouts.

Game 2: Rivier 5, Emmanuel 2

Game two saw three solo homeruns hit, with Emmanuel opening up the scoring this time, as Davis ripped a lead-off shot over the left field fence to give the Saints a 1-0 lead.  The Raiders knotted the game at 1-all in the second, when Allyson Nolan (Willington, Conn.) doubled to score Kathryn Mostone (Pelham, N.H.).

The sixth inning was a scoreless one for both teams, setting up some heroics for the Raiders in the top of the seventh.  Peacock reached on a walk and Mercier singled to put runners on first and second for Riv.  Kirstie Clark (Brentwood, N.H.) then singled, driving in Peacock for what would hold up as the game-winning run.  Danielle Worthington (Uxbridge, Mass.) hit a 2 RBI single for a cushion that brought the spread to 5-2.

The Saints had chances in their final at-bat.  With two outs, Vulpis walked and stole second and Davis walked.  However, with the game-tying run at the plate, Mercier made an incredible diving catch on a pop-up foul that sealed the win for the Raiders and Emmanuel dropped game two, 5-2.

Freshman pitcher Val Kiers (West Warwick, R.I.) suffered the loss in the circle for the Saints, dropping to 2-4 on the season.  Sammon earned the win for the Raiders, giving up 5 hits and striking out 2 Saints.

The Saints will host another GNAC double-header tomorrow night, as the Rams of Suffolk University travel across town for a meeting with Emmanuel on Clemente Field.  Games times are set for 6:30 PM and 8:30 PM.