GREENVILLE SWEEPS SOFTBALL IN SPRING BREAK DOUBLEHEADER

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C.. – The Emmanuel College softball team dropped a pair of games to Greenville College Thursday morning in Day 5 action at the Fast Pitch Dreams Spring Classic. Greenville walked off with a 3-2 win in Game 1 and topped Emmanuel 6-1 in Game 2 for the doubleheader sweep. The Panthers improve to 7-4 on the year while the losses dip EC to 3-6 overall.

Game 1

The Saints jumped out to a 1-0 lead plating a run in the top of the third. Sophomore second baseman Kerianne Vulpis (East Rockaway, N.Y.) looped a one-out single through the right side of the infield and came around to score on an RBI double to left centerfield by sophomore shortstop Catherine Davis (Wethersfield, Conn.).

Greenville answered in the bottom of the third, plating a pair to take a 2-1 lead. Sophomore right fielder Shannon Elbe (Mascoutah, Ill.) grabbed a leadoff walk and scored on an inside the park home run to right field by sophomore centerfielder Bryn McKie (St. Louis, Mo.).

The Panthers threatened again in the fifth, getting two runners in scoring position via a pair of infield singles and a stolen base with just one out. EC rookie hurler Jill Kilcoyne (Worcester, Mass.) was able to escape the jam by getting the final two outs with a strikeout and groundout to keep the game at 2-1 heading into the sixth.

Kilcoyne needed just four pitches to retire the side in the sixth to give the Saints a chance in the seventh and it was Kilcoyne who delivered. Down to their final out, the rookie connected on a triple to centerfield and would come around to tie the score on a passed ball to make it 2-2.

Greenville answered right away, this time to win the game in the bottom of the seventh. The Panthers loaded the bases as Elbe and McKie opened the frame with singles before freshman left fielder Shelby Cash (Mooresville, Ind.) was hit by a pitch. With no outs, freshman third baseman Tiffany Samsoe (Norco, Calif.) ended the game as Kilcoyne hit her second batter in a row to force in the winning run for a 3-2 final.

Freshman Becca Oldham (Greenville, Ill.) went the distance to earn the win, scattering five hits to go along with three strikeouts. Kilcoyne was again a tough-luck loser, scattering seven hits over six+ innings of work.

Game 2

Greenville raced out to a quick 3-0 advantage in first as McKie reached following an EC miscue and scored on an RBI single from Cash to make it 1-0. An RBI groundout by Oldham plated Cash to make it 2-0 and then later in the frame, three consecutive singles including a base knock by junior pitcher Jessica Laubecher (McCordsville, Ind.) accounted for the 3-0 score.

EC got one back in the bottom of the first, taking advantage of a pair of walks issued by Laubecher. Freshman first baseman Susi Kieselback (Wethersfield, Conn.) drew a walk and would come around to score on an RBI single up the middle by freshman third baseman Kara Madden (Silver Spring, Md.) to cut the lead to 3-1.

The Panthers bumped the lead to 5-1 with two more runs in the third. Samsoe belted a leadoff double and scored on an Emmanuel error, allowing Oldham to reach. Oldham would make her way around and score the fifth Greenville run on an RBI groundout by senior shortstop Mattie Fairchild (Gridley, Ill.).

The final run of the game came in the top of the seventh on an RBI single from Oldham to account for the 6-1 final.

Laubecher earned the win, going the distance and allowing just four hits while striking out three. Freshman pitcher Samantha Adams (Sanford, Maine) takes the loss for EC scattering nine hits over seven innings, giving up the six runs (three earned).

The Saints wrap up their South Carolina trip with a game tomorrow against Gettysburg at 11:30 AM while Greenville heads home and plays next on March 19 at Lake Forest at 3:00 PM.