SOFTBALL CAPTURES HISTORIC PLAYOFF WIN OVER USJ, 1-0

BOSTON, Mass. – The Emmanuel College softball team made history Wednesday evening with its 1-0 walk-off victory over University of Saint Joseph (CT) in First Round action of the Great Northeast Athletic Conference Softball tournament. The win for the Saints was the program's first-ever home playoff victory and the program's first playoff win since April 22, 2004 when Emmanuel topped Norwich, 4-3, in the GNAC Quarterfinals. The victory moves the squad on to this weekend's double-loss elimination round-robin format and EC is now 18-15 on the year guaranteeing them a winning record for the first time since the 1999 campaign. The Blue Jays end the year with a 15-18 mark.

All was quiet until the seventh inning when USJ junior catcher Mary Sciglimpaglia (Norwalk, Conn.) reached second base to lead off the inning with the help of Emmanuel miscue. EC sophomore pitcher Jill Kilcoyne (Worcester, Mass.)  stayed composed and mowed down the next three Blue Jays to retire the side and preserve a 0-0 score into the bottom of the seventh.

Saints' junior first baseman Susie Kieselback (Wethersfield, Conn.) led off the bottom of the seventh with a double to left centerfield, just missing a home run as the ball landed at the base of the wall. Sophomore outfielder Erin Walsh (Granby, Conn.) attempted to sacrifice her over to third with a bunt and was able to beat out the throw to put runners on the corners with no outs. Walsh would steal second to put two in scoring position putting two in scoring position for sophomore pinch hitter Kara Madden (Silver Spring, Md.). Madden got a good piece but directly to USJ senior shortstop Sarah Miller (Southington, Conn.). In a heads up play, Miller gunned down the runner heading home to extend the game for the Blue Jays but it didn't matter as sophomore designated player Samantha Adams (Sanford, Maine) delivered a walk-off RBI single to left, driving in Walsh to give Emmanuel the 1-0 victory.

Kilcoyne was dominant in the win, pitching a complete-game shutout with 15 strikeouts, allowing just three hits and one walk over seven innings of work.

The Blue Jays threatened in the third inning with back-to-back singles by freshman third baseman Sarah Ercoli (Watertown, Conn.) and junior second baseman Haley McCall (Lebanon, Conn.) before Kilcoyne struck out the side to keep the score at 0-0.

EC junior outfielder Marianne Halas (Lynn, Mass.) broke up a no-hit bid by USJ junior Patti Sciglimpaglia (Norwalk, Conn.) with a single down the left field line in the bottom of the third but Sciglimpaglia was able to strand her at first.

Leading off the fourth, P. Sciglimpaglia ripped a ground rule double down the left field line to give the Blue Jays a great scoring chance but Kilcoyne was able to again work her way out of the jam, striking out two before inducing an inning-ending foul-out to strand Sciglimpaglia in scoring position.

P. Sciglimpaglia was the tough-luck loser for the Blue Jays, allowing the one run on five hits while striking out six.

Emmanuel advances to the six-team, round-robin double elimination format this Friday in which they will take on No. 3 Saint Joseph's College (ME) at 5:00 PM on the Albertus Magnus College campus. The winner of the 5:00 PM contest will take on No. 2 Albertus Magnus at 7:00 PM to determine who will stay in the winner's bracket heading into Saturday action hosted by No. 1 Suffolk University.

First Round - Tuesday, April 21 (single elimination)
Game 1: #8 Mount Ida at #5 Johnson & Wales - 4:00 p.m. WON BY JWU, 10-0 (5 inn.)
Game 2: #7 Saint Joseph (Conn.) at #6 Emmanuel - 7:00 p.m. WON BY EMMANUEL, 1-0

Second Round - Friday, April 24 (double elimination begins)

Game 3: Game 1 winner vs. #4 Simmons at #1 Suffolk - TBA
Game 4: Game 2 winner vs. #3 Saint Joseph's Maine at #2 Albertus - 5:00 p.m.
Game 5: Game 3 winner at #1 Suffolk - TBA
Game 6: Game 4 winner at #2 Albertus Magnus - 7:00 p.m.

(Hosted by Suffolk)
Semifinals - Saturday, April 25
Game 7: Game 4 loser vs. Game 5 loser (elimination game) - 10:00 a.m.
Game 8: Game 3 loser vs. Game 6 loser (elimination game) - 12:15 p.m.
Game 9: Game 5 winner vs. Game 6 winner - 2:30 p.m.
Game 10: Game 7 winner vs. Game 8 winner (elimination game) - 4:45 p.m.

(Hosted by Suffolk)
Championship - Sunday, April 26
Game 11: Game 9 loser vs. Game 10 winner (elimination game) - 10:00 a.m.
Game 12: Game 9 winner vs Game 11 winner - 12:15 p.m.
Game 13: if necessary