SOFTBALL WRAPS SPRING BREAK TRIP WITH 5-3 LOSS TO GETTYSBURG

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. – Despite outhitting their opponents 9-5, the Emmanuel College softball team dropped a 5-3 decision to Gettysburg College in Day 6 action of the Fast Pitch Dreams Spring Classic. The Bullets wrap their Spring Break trip with an 8-1 record while the Saints head back to Boston with a 3-7 mark.

After two scoreless innings of play, Gettysburg got on the board with a run in the third to take a 1-0 lead. Junior centerfield Melissa Tighe (Little Falls, N.J.) drew a one-out walk, stole second base and came around to score on a double to right by freshman shortstop Jamie Abell (Glenn Dale, Md.). Abell tried to stretch the hit into a triple but was gunned down at third on the play.

The Saints plated all their runs in the bottom of the fourth inning, scoring three times on five hits to take a 3-1 lead. Sophomore pitcher Val Kiers (West Warwick, R.I.) started the inning off reaching via an error. Senior third baseman Kayla Howard (Belmont, N.H.) singled to left to put two on for freshman centerfield Cassey LePage (Somerset, Mass.). LePage dropped down a bunt single to load the bases for sophomore left fielder Marianne Halas (Lynn, Mass.). Halas kept the hit party going with a single up the middle, plating freshman pinch runner Samantha Adams (Sanford, Maine.) to tie the game at 1-1. The Bullets were able to cut down a run at the plate on a fielder's choice to give freshman shortstop Catherine Davis (Wethersfield, Conn.) a chance with two outs and the bags juiced. Davis delivered with a two-RBI single up the middle to help EC pull on top, 3-1.

The Bullets got the runs right back in the fifth, scoring three unearned runs to regain the lead for good. The first two Gettysburg batters reached base with the help of Emmanuel errors and were moved into scoring position by a sac bunt by senior catcher Brooke Kalman (Edgemont, Pa.) Tighe loaded the bases with an infield single before Abell delivered with a two-RBI single to even the score at 3-3. Next up, sophomore right fielder Steph Zengel (High Bridge, N.J.) connected with another single to plate the eventual game-winning run in Tighe to give Gettysburg the 4-3 cushion.

Emmanuel threatened in the bottom of the fifth, loading the bases with just one out but sophomore pitcher Michelle Fox (Newton, N.J.) was able to get out of the jam without allowing any runs for the Bullets.

Gettysburg added an insurance run in the seventh as Kalman drew a walk to open the inning and her pinch runner, freshman Sam Misurell (Franklin Park, N.J.) came around to score on a sacrifice fly by Zengel to account for the 5-3 final.

Fox went the distance for the win and improves to 5-0 on the year, scattering nine hits to go along with six strikeouts while allowing the three runs, all unearned. Kiers takes the loss for the Saints allowing the five runs (two earned) on five hits while striking out three.

Emmanuel is idle until Wednesday, March 19 when they play Wentworth Institute of Technology in a doubleheader scheduled to begin at 3:30 PM while Gettysburg hosts Hood on March 18 for a twinbill beginning at 3:00 PM.