SOFTBALL PICKS UP TWO WINS OVER WENTWORTH, 10-2 & 5-3

BOSTON, Mass. – The Emmanuel College softball team recorded a pair of victories Wednesday evening, defeating Wentworth Institute of Technology 10-2 & 5-3 at Roberto Clemente Field in non-conference action. With the wins, the Saints improve to 14-22 on the year while the losses drop WIT to 6-23.

Game 1 Recap
The Leopards jumped out to an early 2-0 lead, plating a pair of runs in the top of the first inning as freshman second baseman Erin McKinnon (Berlin, Conn.) led off the game with a single and scored on an RBI triple by sophomore shortstop Sam Curran (Quincy, Mass.) to make it 1-0. Curran would score on an RBI groundout by sophomore catcher Liz Glavin (Ipswich, Mass.) later in the inning to account for the two-run lead.

Emmanuel jumped ahead, plating five in the bottom of the second to take a 5-2 lead. Freshman third baseman Jenna Marcello (Hopedale, Mass.) led off the frame with a walk and rookie centerfielder Marianne Halas (Lynn, Mass.) reached base next after getting hit by a pitch. Freshman second baseman Kerianne Vulpis (East Rockaway, N.Y.) loaded the bases with a bunt single for junior catcher Julia Levins (Uxbridge, Mass.). Levins delivered with an RBI single up the middle to get the Saints on the board, plating Marcello to make it 2-1.  Next up, freshman shortstop Catherine Davis (Wethersfield, Conn.) belted a shot to the base of the left field wall, plating Halas and Vulpis to give the Saints the lead for good at 3-2. Junior designated player Jennifer Garrity (Lynn, Mass.) made it 4-2 with an RBI single to right, knocking in Levins. Davis would score the final run in the frame coming around on an error.

In the fourth, the Saints opened the game up with four more runs to build a 9-2 lead. Garrity reach via a Wentworth miscue to start off the inning before senior pitcher Kelly Lloid (Issaquah, Wash.) walked. Sophomore first baseman Alexandra Bressette (North Easton, Mass.) singled to load the bases before Marcello ripped a two-RBI double to left to make it 7-2. One batter later, Vulpis connected with a two-RBI single to right-center to push the hosts lead to 9-2.

Lloid would end the game early with an RBI single in the fifth inning to knock in the Saints 10^th run of the action to give them the eight-run lead and 10-2 victory.

Lloid improved to 7-9 on the year, tossing five innings and allowing two runs on four hits while striking out five. Freshman Kate Lee (Spruce Head, Maine) suffered the loss for the Leopards, falling to 4-13 on the year allowing 10 runs (six earned) on 11 hits.

Game 2 Recap

 Wentworth opened the nightcap in similar fashion, taking an early 2-0 lead with a pair of runs in the top of the second. Junior Paige Mochi (Cambridge, Mass.) started a two-out rally with a single to left before sophomore Angie Rodriguez (Boston, Mass.) drew a walk. McKinnon loaded the bases with a single before sophomore centerfielder Devinn Doherty (Bridgewater, Mass.) delivered a two-RBI single to give the visitors the 2-0 cushion.

The Leopards would make it 3-0 with an unearned run in the fourth as Doherty knocked an RBI single to left to plate McKinnon who reached base via a two-out Emmanuel error.

Emmanuel threatened in the bottom of the fourth, loading the bases with one out but sophomore pitcher Anna Wahlstrom (Quincy, Mass.) was able to work her way out of the jam to preserve the 3-0 lead for Wentworth.

The Saints mounted their comeback in the bottom of the sixth inning as their first two runners reached via a walk and hit by pitch. Following a fielder's choice, Vulpis delivered a two-RBI double to left-center to cut the Leopards lead to 3-2.  Levins made it a first and third situation with a bunt single and then moved into scoring position by stealing second. Up next, Davis came through with a clutch double to the left field fence, driving in Vulpis and Levins to give the Saints the 4-3 lead. Davis scored the Saints fifth run coming in on a pair of wild pitches to make it 5-3. Lee would come in on relief for Wahlstrom and record the final two outs in the inning to keep the score at 5-3 in favor of Emmanuel.

Freshman pitcher Val Kiers (West Warwick, R.I.) was able to finish the Leopards off in the seventh to preserve the 5-3 win for the Saints, improving her record to 7-11 on the year. Keirs went the distance, allowing the three runs (two earned) while striking out eight. Wahlstrom suffered the loss and drops to 2-10 on the year.

The Saints are back in action on Friday evening when they host Albertus Magnus College at 6:30 p.m. in GNAC action.