SOFTBALL HANGS ON FOR 3-2 WIN OVER LAKELAND

CLERMONT, Fla. – The Emmanuel College softball team held on for a 3-2 victory over Lakeland College Friday afternoon at Hancock Field on Day 5 action at the National Training Center games. The Saints improve to 5-4 on the year while the loss drops the Muskies to 8-6 overall.

EC grabbed a quick 1-0 lead with a run in the bottom of the first. Senior shortstop Catherine Davis (Wethersfield, Conn.) lead off with a single to right center and moved into scoring position via a sacrifice bunt by junior right fielder Erin Walsh (Granby, Conn.). Davis came around to score on an RBI single to left by freshman designation player Ashley Skey (Brookline, N.H.).

The Saints added two runs in the bottom of the third to increase the lead to 3-0. Davis opened the frame with a solo homer to centerfield to make it 2-0. The other run came on an RBI double to right by junior first baseman Susie Kieselback (Wethersfield, Conn.), driving in her sister Megan to give the Saints a 3-0 lead. Emmanuel threatened for more with runners on second and third with just one out but the Muskies got out of the jam with a heads up double play to end the inning.

After facing the minimum nine batters through the first three without allowing a hit, Adams finally surrendered a hit in the fourth. Lakeland collected back-to-back singles by freshman second baseman Haliey Jester (Salem, Wis.) and freshman third baseman Rosa Gonzalez (Elwood, Ill.). The Muskies threatened to get on the board and attempted a double-steal but the runner was called out at the plate to keep the Saints in front, 3-0.

The Muskies continued to put pressure on the Saints as sophomore centerfielder Calie Delisi (Oak Forest, Ill.) connected on a one-out double to right center. Adams and the Emmanuel defense stayed strong and got out of the inning, stranding Delisi at second to keep the score at 3-0 midway through the fifth inning.

Lakeland made things interesting in the seventh, loading the bases with two outs. Back-to-back RBI singles to right by Sami Jo Williams (Sussex, Wis.) and Jester made it 3-2 but Adams ended the inning with her fourth strikeout of the afternoon to preserve the win and improve to 2-0 on the year.

LC sophomore pitcher Savannah Stenlund (Rapid River, Mich.) threw well in defeat, going the distance for Lakeland allowing the three runs on eight hits while striking out three to fall to 1-3 on the season.

Emmanuel has its final game of the Florida trip tonight when they take on Coast Guard Academy.