JWU SNEAKS PAST SOFTBALL IN GNAC ACTION, 1-0 & 3-0

Providence, R.I. -- The Johnson & Wales University softball swept a Great Northeast Athletic Conference double header at the Wildcat Athletic Complex on Saturday afternoon.  The games marked the first time in school history the softball team has played on their own campus.  JWU posted a 1-0 win in the opener and completed the sweep with a 3-0 victory in the nightcap.

In the opener, JWU got the only run they would need when freshman Cynthia Proby (Bremerton, Wash.) reached on an error and came around to score on an RBI single by junior Robyn Ziegler (Doylestown, Pa.).  That would be all the scoring for the game as junior Taylor Cwalinski (Jackson, N.J.) notched the complete-game shutout, striking out nine while allowing four hits in seven innings of work.  Sophomore Kelly Lliod (Issaquah, Wash.) notched a pair of hits in the loss for Emmanuel while Ziegler picked up a pair of hits in the victory for JWU. Junior catcher Julia Levins (Uxbridge, Mass.) also notched her 100th career hit in a Saints uniform during the game.

Junior Tayla Gardner (Orangeburg, N.Y.) pitched a gem in the win for the Wildcats in the nightcap, allowing just one hit with seven strikeouts in the complete-game victory.  JWU struck early when Cwalinski singled and scored on a wild pitch.  Gardner helped her own cause with an RBI single in the third and the Wildcats capitalized on an Emmanuel miscue in the fourth en route to the 3-0 victory. EC freshman pitcher Val Kiers (West Warwick, R.I.) pitched well in defeat allowing just the three runs (two earned) on eight hits and also recorded the only Emmanuel hit in the game.

With the two wins Johnson & Wales improves to 22-16 overall and 14-8 un the GNAC while Emmanuel falls to 14-24 for the year and 5-17 in league play The Wildcats will return to action on Monday, April 22nd when they travel to Mount Ida for a Great Northeast Athletic Conference twin bill at 3:00 p.m. while Emmanuel hosts Albertus Magnus on Monday afternoon in their regular season finale. 

*Release courtesy of JWU Sports Information