BURGOS EARNS WALK OFF AND SHUTOUT IN SAINTS SWEEP

BOSTON, Mass. – Emmanuel College freshman Olivia Burgos (Newington, Conn.) led the Saints to a Saturday sweep of a Great Northeast Athletic Conference doubleheader against Mount Ida at Clemente Field.

Burgos capped a 4-3 win in game one with a walk-off RBI single in the bottom of the seventh inning and followed it up with a 3-0 complete game shutout on the mound in game two.

With the sweep, the Saints improve to 15-12 overall and 7-5 in the conference, while the Mustangs drop to 6-16 on the year and 2-8 in the GNAC.

GAME ONE

The Mustangs wasted no time in game one, jumping on the board in the top of the first inning. Junior Michelle MacDonald led off the inning with a bunt single and advanced to third on a sac bunt, followed by a ground out. She then scored on a RBI single to left field by sophomore Hayley Microulis.

Emmanuel responded in the bottom of the inning, as freshman Casey Sheehan (Medway, Mass.) singled and then worked her way home to tie things up at 1-1. After the single, Sheehan went to second on a wild pitch, third on a ground out, and scored on another wild pitch to knot the score.

Both pitchers settled down until the bottom of the third where the Saints threatened to take the lead, putting runners on second and third with no outs in the inning. Senior captain Kerrianne Vulpis (East Rockaway, N.Y.) walked, and fellow senior captain Cat Davis (Wethersfield, Conn.) reached on an error, putting Mount Ida junior pitcher Nicole Handzel (Palmer, Mass.) in a tough spot. Handzel forced Sheehan to fly out, sophomore Abbey Alexiades (Kingston, Mass.) to pop out, and freshman Ashley Skey (Brookline, N.H.) to strike out, leaving two Saints in scoring position.

Kilcoyne found herself in an identical situation the following inning, as Morton led off with a single, and Microulis followed with a double. The Saints junior hurler settled down, and induced two pop ups and a strikeout to get out of the jam.

The Saints took advantage of some control issues for Handzel to jump ahead in the fifth. With Sheehan at first and two batters out, Alexiades and Skey both walked to load the bases for junior captain Susie Kieselback (Wethersfield, Conn.). The senior worked a nine-pitch walk to bring in the go-ahead run. Her sister, Megan, stepped up next and singled up the middle to drive in another run, but pinch runner Elyse Moretti (Cranston, R.I.) was thrown out at the plate to end the inning with EC ahead 3-1.

The back-and-forth battle continued as the Mustangs scored a pair of their own in the next half inning, once again thanks to Morton and Microulis. Morton doubled down the left field line and beat out a throw at third on the following play that allowed Microulis to reach. Freshman Kelsey Weston (Hampstead, N.H.) tied the game with one swing, driving a double to the left field fence and scoring both runners.

Kilcoyne ended the rally there, but the damage was done and the teams remained tied at 3-3 until the bottom of the seventh when Burgos singled home senior Marianne Halas (Lynn, Mass.) for the walk-off victory.

The Saints had multiple chances to end it, loading the bases with no outs, but Handzel battled to get retire two batters before Burgos eventually ended it.

GAME TWO

After winning game one with her bat, Burgos (1-3) controlled the second game with her arm. Making just the fourth start of her career, the freshman tossed a complete-game shutout, allowing seven hits in the win.

The Saints gave her some early run support, sending two across the plate in the bottom of the third. Sheehan reached on a fielder's choice and advanced to second when Alexiades walked. Skey jumped into the box and ripped a first-pitch double to centerfield to drive in two.

An inning later, junior Erin Walsh (Granby, Conn.) led off with a single and eventually scored on a RBI-single by Davis, giving the Saints a 3-0 lead that would last for the remainder of the game.

Sheehan notched two hits and three runs in the doubleheader for the Saints. Susie Kiesleback went 3-for-4, with an RBI and two walks. Walsh chipped in with three hits and a run scored.

Macdonald, Morton, and Microulis all had three hits and a run scored on the afternoon for the visitors.

The Saints return to action tomorrow afternoon for a GNAC doubleheader against Anna Maria College. Game one begins at noon, with game two beginning immediately after. The Mustangs host Lasell tomorrow afternoon in a doubleheader scheduled for the same time.