SOFTBALL TEAM STUNS #3 ST. JOE’S IN ROUND TWO TOURNEY WIN

WEST HAVEN, Conn. – The sixth-seeded Emmanuel College softball team scored five runs in the fifth inning en route to an 8-3 victory over third-seeded Saint Joseph's College of Maine on Friday night in Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Tournament play at West Haven High School.  With the win, Emmanuel improves to 19-15 on the year, while the Monks fall to 25-12.

Emmanuel 8, Saint Joseph's 3

The Monks scored two runs in the bottom of the first inning, thanks to a wild pitch and then an RBI single by Melissa Mayhew.  In the top of the third inning, Emmanuel's junior captain Catherine Davis knocked out a two-run homer over the center field wall to tie the game at two.  Junior Cassey LePage walked to lead off the inning and moved into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt before scoring on the one-out homerun.

Erin Walsh doubled to lead off the fourth inning, before scoring on a Sam Adams infield single.  Saint Joseph's tied the game in the bottom of the frame on a fly out in foul territory to left field.

Emmanuel took the lead for good in the top of the fifth with five runs on five hits and two errors.

Erica Boulanger started in the circle for Saint Joseph's as she went three innings, giving up three runs, three walks and two hits. Danielle Egan allowed six hits and two earned runs in 1.2 innings of work for the Monks, while Theresa Hendrix threw the final 2.1 innings. She gave up one hit and one run scored.

Emmanuel's Jill Kilcoyne threw the complete game as she walked seven and struck out nine, while allowing two hits.

Davis finished the game 2-for-2 with two RBI for the Saints.

Albertus Magnus 8, Emmanuel 6

With the early win, the Saints advanced to take on host Albertus Magnus College in the nightcap.  The second-seeded Falcons defeated Emmanuel, 8-6. The Falcons will now face fifth-seeded Johnson & Wales (R.I.) on Saturday in a 2:30 PM contest at American Legion Park in East Boston, Mass.  With one tournament loss, the Saints will face Simmons College in the loser's bracket on Saturday at 12:15 PM.

Albertus improved to 23-11 on the year with the win, tying the program's single-season wins record from 2002.  In their 11th appearance in the GNAC Tournament, the Falcons are now 8-12 all-time in tournament action and 1-1 against Emmanuel in postseason play all-time.

Albertus jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the second inning when an error and then a bases loaded walk gave the Falcons the early edge.

Emmanuel scored its first run of the game in the top of the third thanks to an RBI double by Davis.

In the fourth inning, the Falcons scored three runs on two hits and two Emmanuel errors.  Rachel Cataudella registered an RBI single in the frame to give Albertus a 5-1 lead.  Albertus pushed out to a 7-1 lead with two runs in the fifth thanks to RBIs from Kirsten McGinty and Brittney Urciuoli.

After getting the first out quickly in the fifth inning, Albertus got into some trouble. Kerrianne Vulpis singled to center for Emmanuel before move into scoring position on an Abbey Alexiades walk.

Another walk issued to Susie Kieselback loaded the bases before an Erin Walsh RBI single to right field. Rookie Brooke Ames then capitalized on the opportunity for the Saints, hitting a grand slam over the center field wall to cut Albertus' lead to one at 7-6.

Megan Ferraro came in for relief for Samatha Maselli in the frame and retired the first two batters she faced.

Albertus got one run back from Emmanuel in the sixth on a Melissa Castillo single.

Maselli earned the win to improve to 14-3 as she threw 5.1 innings, while allowing five hits and three walks, while striking out one.  Ferraro earned the save as she allowed two hits and no runs.

Samantha Adams took the loss to fall to 4-9 on the year. She allowed two earned runs and six hits.

* Release Courtesy of Albertus Magnus College Sports Information