SAINTS SPLIT GNAC SOFTBALL TWINBILL WITH LASELL

BOSTON, Mass. – The Emmanuel College softball team used an 11 hit effort to earn a 5-4 victory in game two of a GNAC doubleheader Sunday afternoon against Lasell College at Roberto Clemente Field. Lasell was able to capture game one, 9-5, behind 10 hits and four EC errors. Following the split, the Saints stand at 12-20 on the year and 5-12 in the GNAC while the Lasers are now 7-23 and 4-14.

Game 1

The Lasers jumped out to an early 5-0 lead, plating all five in the top of the first inning. Junior centerfielder Santina Antoshak (Closter, N.J.) reach via an error to lead off the game and moved into scoring position on a double by sophomore leftfielder Amanda Szidat (Westford, Mass.). Antoshal scored to make it 1-0 on an RBI single up the middle by freshman second baseman Nicole LeBlanc (Easton, Mass.). Junior catcher Denise Archetto (Cranston, R.I.) drew a one out walk to put two on for sophomore first baseman Michaelea Grady (Worcester, Mass.). Grady connected on a shot to right-center that was aided by the wind, carrying over the wall for a three-run homer to make it 5-0.

The Saints got one back in the bottom of the first as rookie shortstop Catherine Davis (Wethersfield, Conn.) led off with a single up the middle and would come around to score on an RBI single by senior pitcher Kelly Lloid (Issaquah, Wash.). Emmanuel would load the bases with two outs but the Lasers were able to get out of the jam with just the one run to maintain the 5-1 cushion.

Emmanuel continued to chip away with two runs in the fourth to cut the Laser lead to 5-3. Freshman second baseman Kerianne Vulpis (East Rockaway, N.Y.) reached with a one-out triple and then junior catcher beat out an infield single to put runners at the corners. Levins would steal second to put runners in scoring position for Davis who delivered a sac fly to score Vulpis and make it 5-2. Levin came around to score a ground rule double by junior designated player Jennifer Garrity (Lynn, Mass.) to make it 5-3.

After retiring the Laser side with just four pitches in the sixth, the Saints got one more back in the bottom half of the frame to pull within one at 5-4. Junior third baseman Kayla Howard (Belmont, N.H.) led off the inning getting hit by a pitch, advanced to second on a ground out and third on a passed ball. The junior would score on a wild pitch to pull EC to within one.

Lasell would score a pair of insurance runs in the top of the sixth to make it 7-4. LeBlanc single to center to open the inning and scored on an RBI double to left-center by Grady. Grady would come around to score on an RBI single by freshman designated player Eileen Bergin (Arlington, Mass.) to give the visitors  the three run cushion heading into the bottom half of the sixth.

Davis was able to collect a two-out double and score on an RBI single by Garrity to make it 7-5 in the bottom of the sixth but Archetto delivered the knock-out blow with a two-out, two-RBI single in the seventh to pull the Lasers on top, 9-5.

For Lasell, Grady finished the game going 3-4 with four RBI and two runs scored.

Davis paced the Saints with a 3-3 effort at the plate, scoring two runs to go along with an RBI.

Senior pitcher Alison Saluti (Braintree, Mass.) was able to retire the EC side in order in the seventh to notch her fourth victory of the year, tossing a complete game. Lloid suffered the loss for the Saints, also going the distance and allowing the nine runs (six earned) on ten hits.

Game 2

Lasell jumped out to another early lead, plating a first inning run to go on top, 1-0. Junior second baseman Couryney Moen (Brookfield, Mass.) singled up the middle and came around to score on an RBI single by LeBlanc. The Lasers would then load the bases but Emmanuel was able to escape the jam allowing just the single run.

Emmanuel evened the score at 1-1 in the bottom of the first as Davis led off with a single and came in on a sacrifice fly by Howard but the Lasers got the run right back in the second to take the 2-1 lead. Antoshak reached on a two-out error and came around to score on an RBI single to right by Moen.

The Lasers would add a pair in the third to push their lead to 4-1. Freshman shortstop Erin Larghi (Wakefield, R.I.) came through with a two-out, two-RBI single to center to give the visitors the three-run cushion.

The Saints got the two right back in the bottom half of the third on a two-run bomb to centerfield by Garrity to make it 4-3 and would then tie the game at 4-all in the fourth when freshman centerfield Marianne Halas (Lynn, Mass.) came in to score on an RBI infield single from Levins.

Lasell threatened in the fifth by loading the bases but Emmanuel was able to get out of the jam without any damage done.

Emmanuel was able to plate the go-ahead run in the sixth on a sac-fly by Vulpis to take the 5-4 lead. In the top of the seventh, the Lasers were able to get the tying runner all the way to third before the Saints were able to retire the side with the 5-4 victory.

Garrity, Davis and Hallas all finished the afternoon with two hits for Emmanuel.

Moen collected a game-high three hits for Lasell.

Rookie pitcher Val Kiers (West Warwick, R.I.) earned the win on the mound for Emmanuel going the distance and allowing four runs (three earned) on nine hits while striking out four. Bergin suffered the loss for the Lasers, allowing five runs (four earned) on 11 hits to go along with one strikeout.

Emmanuel is back in action tomorrow when they face Emerson College at 12:00 PM while Lasell returns to the diamond on Monday in a doubleheader against Suffolk University scheduled for 3:00 PM.