SOFTBALL DOWNS COLBY, 5-3, IN SPOFFORD SHOWDOWN

BOSTON, Mass. – The Emmanuel College softball team defeated Colby College, 5-3, Friday evening at Roberto Clemente Field in non-conference action. Game two of the twinbill was called due to low temperatures following the conclusion of the first game. With the victory, the Saints improve to 6-7 on the year and have now won three consecutive games while the loss was the first of the year for the Mules who fall to 0-1.

EC jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning, taking advantage of a few early base on balls that turned into runs. Sophomore shortstop Catherine Davis (Wethersfield, Conn.) drew a walk to lead off the game before senior designated player Jennifer Garrity (Lynn, Mass.) followed suit. Freshman first baseman Susie Kieselback (Wethersfield, Conn.) drove in Davis to make it 1-0 with an RBI double to right field. Freshman left fielder Samantha Adams (Sandford, Maine) drew the third walk of the inning to load the bases with nobody out. Colby senior pitcher Aimee Polimeno (North Woodstock, N.H.) registered the first out with a strike out and was able to the induce a groundball force out at home for the second. The Saints made sure not to waste the bases loaded opportunity though as senior third baseman Kayla Howard (Belmont, N.H.) reached with an infield single, knocking in Kieselback to make it 2-0. Next up, senior catcher Julia Levins (Uxbridge, Mass.) drew the Saints fourth walk on the force in Adams to bump the hosts lead to 3-0. Polimeno was then able to retire the side with another groundball out, stranding the bases loaded.

The Saints made it 5-0 with a pair in the fourth. Adams delivered the big hit with a two-out, two-RBI single to left to give Emmanuel the five run cushion.

The Mules made things interesting in the fifth, scoring three runs to cut their lead to 5-3 heading into the late frames of the contest. With one out, sophomore Carylanne Wolfington (Hallowell, Maine) singled up the middle and next up, freshman Katie McLaughlin (Glenburn, Maine) also reached with a single up the middle to put two on with one out. Freshman second baseman Robin Spofford (Cohasset, Mass.) loaded the bases with a walk. Colby got on the board with an unearned run as junior second baseman Meghan Lewia (Wells, Maine) reach via a fielder's choice where the throw to the plate was dropped to score Wolfington. Next up, junior Erica Pulford (Glen Rock, N.J.) connected on a two-RBI single down the right field line to make it a 5-3 game. Sophomore shortstop Emily Schatz (Lyman, Maine) walked to load the bases but EC sophomore pitcher Val Kiers (West Warwick, R.I.) was able to get out of the jam with a groundout to second to retire the side.

Freshman Jill Kilcoyne (Worcester, Mass.) relived Kiers in the sixth and recorded the final six out to preserve the win and earn her first collegiate save, striking out four batters. Kiers earned the win to improve to 3-2 on the year, scattering four hits while striking out two.

Polimeno suffered the loss working three and two-thirds innings before being relieved by junior Megan Michie (Rhinebeck, N.Y.) who recorded the final seven outs, allowed no runs and three hits.

Pulford and Wolfington each finished the game with two hits for the Mules while Kieselback went 2-3 with two runs scored and an RBI for Emmanuel.

The Saints return action on Wednesday, March 26 when they host Framingham State in a doubleheader scheduled to begin at 6:30 PM. Colby heads south for the National Training Center tournament in Claremont, Fla. and face Oberlin College on March 23.

Prior to the start of the game, the Emmanuel College athletic department took a moment to honor a unique moment in collegiate athletics, recognizing the fact the EC Head Coach Rob Spofford was coaching against his daughter Robin, who started her first collegiate game for the Mules as the designated player.