JWU PITCHES PAST EC SOFTBALL FOR GNAC SWEEP

BOSTON, Mass. – Senior pitcher Tayla Garnder (Orangeburg, N.Y.) hurled the Johnson & Wales University softball team to a pair of Great Northeast Athletic Conference victories over Emmanuel College Sunday afternoon at Roberto Clemente Field. The Wildcats captured game one 4-2 and went on to complete the sweep with a 5-3 victory in game two with Gardner earning the wins in both. With the victories, JWU improves to 15-7 overall and 8-2 in GNAC play while the losses drops the Saints to 11-14 and 3-7 in the GNAC.

GAME 1

After three scoreless innings, the Wildcats struck first, scoring two unearned runs in the top of the fourth inning to take a 2-0 lead. Sophomore catcher Kristen Solari (Old Bridge, N.J.) reached via an EC error to lead off the inning before sophomore shortstop Cynthia Proby (Bremerton, Wash.) drew a walk to put two on with no out. The Saints were able to record two outs but the runners moved up a base, tagging up on a fly out to right to put two in scoring position. Solari would score the game's first run on a passed ball before Proby made it 2-0 when she came around on an RBI single to right field by freshman second baseman Rebcca Manchester (Rehoboth, Mass.).

The Saints answered immediately with a pair in the bottom of the fourth to even the score at 2-2. Sophomore second baseman Kerrianne Vulpis (East Rockaway, N.Y.) lead off the frame with a walk and came around two score on a two-out, two-run homer to right centerfield by freshman first baseman Susie Kieselback (Wethersfield, Conn.).

EC flashed some defense in the top of the fifth to keep the score locked at 2-2 as freshman centerfield Cassey LePage (Somerset, Mass.) made a highlight reel catch in center, robbing a homerun with a leaping grab that had her crashing through the centerfield breakaway fence.

Johnson & Wales would strike last, delivered the blow in the top of the seventh with a pair to secure the 4-2 win. After recording the first two outs, the Wildcats rallied with two down as sophomore right fielder Carly Cabral (Warwick, R.I.) tripled to right center to put the go-ahead runner at third. Garnder was intentionally walked and immediately stole second to put two in scoring position for senior designated player Taylor Cwalinski (Jackson, N.J.). Cwalinski delivered with a two-RBI double to left to lift the Wildcats to the 4-2 road win.

The JWU pitching duo of Cwalinski and Gardner held the Saints to just the one hit as Gardner was perfect over the final three innings to earn the win. EC freshman pitcher Jill Kilcoyne (Worcester, Mass.) pitched well in defeat, going the distance and allowing four runs (two earned) on five hits while striking out eight.

GAME 2

Emmanuel jumped out to a 1-0 lead following a solo home run to left by freshman designated player Brenna Gilmore (San Carlos, Calif.) in the bottom of the first inning.

The Wildcats evened the score at 1-1 with a run in the top of the third as Cabral lead off the inning with a triple down the right field line. She scored on an RBI single to center by Gardner to tie up the contest.

In the fourth, JWU pushed an unearned run across to take the 2-1 lead. Freshman outfielder Diana Amendolara (Newtown, Pa.) struck out to start the frame but reached after a dropped third strike. She would move over on an infield groundout and then score with the help of another Emmanuel miscue. Freshman designated player Ariana Caffeso (Johnston, R.I.) singled to center but a bobbled in the outfield allowed for Amendolara to come around and score.

The Saints came right back in the bottom half of the inning as Vulpis lead off with a solo shot to left to tie the score at 2-2. EC would threaten to regain the lead, loading the bases but Gardner was able to work her way out of the jam to preserve the tied score.

After EC sophomore pitcher Val Keirs (West Warwick, RI) retired the side in order in the fifth, Emmanuel took the lead in the bottom of the inning as sophomore shortstop Catherine Davis (Wethersfield, Conn.) connected on the third EC home run of the game with a solo blast to left-center to make it 3-2.

Johnson & Wales wasted little time to make it 3-3 as Proby lead off the sixth with a solo homer to left to tie the score. The inning continued and again the Wildcats did damage with two outs to go ahead 5-3. Caffeso singles to right and Cabral reached on an infield single to put two on for Gardner. The senior delivery with a two-RBI double to the right field fence that gave the visitors the lead for good.

The Saints return to action on Tuesday, April 8 when they face Simmons College in a GNAC twinbill to be played on the UMass Boston campus. JWU hosts UMass Dartmouth the same day.