BIG 1ST INNING POWERS SOFTBALL PAST WAYNESBURG, 9-5

CLERMONT, Fla. – A seven run first inning powered the Emmanuel College softball team over Waynesburg College, 9-5, Thursday evening at Legends Way Park during Day 4 action at the National Training Center games. With the win, the Saints improve to 4-4 on the year while the loss drops the Jackets to 2-6 on the year.

After being held to just two hits in their previous game, the Saints bats exploded for six hits and seven runs in the first inning to jump out to a 7-0 lead. During the inning, freshman designated payer Ashley Skey (Brookline, N.H.) hit her first collegiate home run to center field to drive in two runs and make it 3-0. Senior shortstop Catherine Davis (Wethersfield, Conn.) had two hits in the inning including a leadoff triple and a two-RBI single. Freshman outfielder Olivia Burgos (Newington, Conn.) also had a two-RBI single in the inning.

Waynesburg got three back in the bottom of the fourth when they batted around to cut the lead to 7-3. An RBI single up the middle by freshman Cat Allstatt (Indianapolis, Ind.) got the Jackets on the board at 7-1. After loading the bases, the Saints made a pitching change entering junior Jill Kilcoyne (Worcester, Mass.) into the game for freshman Megan Kieselback (Wethersfield, Conn.). A walk with the bags juiced by senior Jess Dorazio (Cokeburg, Pa.) made it 7-2 and next up, Sabrina Stankus (Canonsburg, Pa.) slapped an infield single to short to drive in Allstatt to make it 7-3. Killcoyne would work out of the jam and strand the bases loaded to keep the Saints lead at four.

EC added an unearned run in the top of the fifth with the help of a Jacket error. With the bases loaded junior pinch hitter Brenna Gilmore (San Carlos, Calif.) popped out to the second basemen in shallow right field. With Skey on third, the rookie made a hard move to the plate to draw a throw which ended up being well off the mark and to the backstop. Skey then broke for the plate and just beat the toss to make it an 8-3 game.

Back to back doubles in the seventh by junior first baseman Susie Kielselback (Wethersfield, Conn.) and freshman catcher Casey Sheehan (Medway, Mass.) made it 9-3.

The Jackets answered in the bottom of the seventh, making things interesting with two runs to make it 9-5 but Kilcoyne was able to strand the bases loaded by striking out what represented the tying run to end the game.

Kilcoyne earned the win in relief tossing the final 3 2/3 innings to improve to 2-4 on the year.

Emmanuel is back in action tomorrow afternoon in their final day of competition at the NTC games against Coast Guard Academy and Lakeland.