SOFTBALL WINS IN ‘WILD’ 7-6 FINISH OVER ROGER WILLIAMS

CLERMONT, Fla. – The Emmanuel College softball team earned its first win of 2016, topping Roger Williams University 7-6 in eight innings at Foundation Academy at the NTC games. The Saints scored the last four runs of the game including the winning run on a wild pitch for the come-from-behind "W" to improve to 1-1 on the year while the loss drops the Hawks to 2-4 overall.

Trailing 5-1 entering the bottom of the fourth, the Saints kept things close by scoring a pair of unearned runs, cutting the lead to 5-3. EC freshman catcher Casey Sheehan (Medway, Mass.) delivered her second hit of the day followed by a one-out single by junior right fielder Erin Walsh (Granby, Conn.). The two would both come around to score with the help of an RWU miscue, cutting the Hawks lead to two heading into the fifth inning.

RWU made the Saints pay with two outs in the fifth to increase the lead to 6-3 lead. After freshman relief pitcher Megan Kieselback (Wethersfield, Conn.) retired the first two batters of the inning, Messier tripled to deep centerfield and scored on a double down the left field line by Moise.

EC rookie designated player Ashley Skey (Brookline, N.H.) registered her first collegiate hit in the bottom of the fifth with a bloop single to left.

Emmanuel cut the lead to one with two runs in the bottom of the sixth to make it a one-run game at 6-5. Senior shortstop Catherine Davis (Wethersfield, Conn.) delivered the big blow with a two-RBI double down the left field line to drive in the fourth and fifth runs of the day for the Saints. RWU rookie pitcher Juliet Hulme (Duxbury, Mass.) worked her way out of the inning, stranding Davis on third to preserve the on-run lead heading into the final frame.

The Saints used the momentum to tie to score in the bottom of the seventh and force extra innings. Pinch hitter Olivia Burgos (Newington, Conn.) singled to lead off the inning and came around to score on an RBI double by junior first baseman Susie Kieselback (Wethersfield, Conn.) to make it 6-6.

In the eighth inning, Emmanuel used a huge defensive play to hold RWU scoreless as junior centerfield Cassey LePage (Somerset, Mass.) doubled-up a Hawk runner at second base following a fly out to center to open extra innings with a double-play.

In the bottom of the eighth, EC decided to play small-ball to advance the runner at second base in Walsh. Senior left fielder Marianne Halas (Lynn, Mass.) put down a perfect bunt and beat the throw to put runners at the corners with no outs for Davis. The senior drew a walk to load the bases but the Hawks were able to get the next two batters to set the stage. With Burgos at the plate, RWU sophomore pitcher Mary Adametz (Higganum, Conn.) bounced in the first pitch of the at-bat, hitting the plate causing the ball to go to the backstop. Walsh scampered in from third, just beating the throw to score the winning run in Emmanuel's 7-6 victory.

Roger Williams jumped out to a 2-0 lead scoring two unearned runs in the top of the first inning. Junior second baseman Meredith Moise (North Reading, Mass.) walked and came around to score to make it 1-0 after a single by junior first baseman Alicia McCauley (North Reading, Mass.) resulted in an outfield error allowing Moise to score from first. The second run for the Hawks came on an RBI sinlge by junior catcher Mikaela Grosso (West Warwick, R.I.), driving in McCauley to give RWU the early 2-0 lead. Roger Williams would go on to load the bases but the Saints escaped the jam down only two as junior pitcher Samantha Adams (Sanford, Maine) worked her way out of the jam.

Sheehan collected her first collegiate hit in the second inning, driving a single up the middle with one out.

The Hawks added another run in the top of the third to bump their lead to 3-0. Sophomore left fielder Valerie Moran (Syosset, N.Y.) beat out an infield single to third, driving in freshman Sarah Doe (East Berkshire, Vt.) to give RWU the three-run lead.

Emmanuel answered in the bottom of the third with their first run of the contest. Halas led off the inning with a bunt single and came around to score the Saints' first run on an error by the Hawks to cut the lead to 3-1.

Roger Williams got the run right back as senior centerfielder Taylor Messier (Cranston, R.I.) opened the fourth with a double to left and came around to score when Moise delivered a double to center, bumping the lead to 4-1 and chasing Adams from the game. Moise would score on an RBI single to left by junior designated player Julianne Vesce (Mahwah, N.J.) to make it 5-1.

Halas and Sheehan each finished with three hits each for Emmanuel while Davis finished with three RBI.

Messier and Moise added three hits apiece for RWU.

M. Kielselback earned the win in relief to notch her first collegiate victory, hurling five innings while allowing five hits and one run to go along with three strike outs. Adametz took the loss in relief and falls to 1-2 on the year for the Hawks,

Emmanuel returns to action tomorrow morning at 11:00 AM for a contest with Newbury College in Day 2 action at the NTC Games.