SOFTBALL RALLIES FOR 15-14 WALK OFF WIN IN SEASON-OPENER VS COAST GUARD

CLERMONT, Fla. – The Emmanuel College softball erased a six run deficit to come-from-behind and defeat Coast Guard Academy, 15-14, in eight innings Sunday morning in Day 1 action of the NTC Spring Games. The Saints plated six runs in the bottom of the seventh to tie the game at 14-14 before plating the game-winner in the eighth on an RBI single to right field by senior third baseman Kara Madden (Silver Spring, Md.).

Trailing by six runs heading into the bottom of the seventh, the Saints loaded the bases with no outs and freshman shortstop Kerry Sendrick (Medway, Mass.) got the rally start with an RBI single through the left side to make it 14-9. Freshman second baseman Sydney Rogers (Southwick, Mass.) delivered a clutch two-RBI double to right to pull EC to 14-11 before sophomore catcher Casey Sheehan (Medway, Mass.) delivered a game-tying three run blast to left to even the score at 14-all.

In the extra frame, Sheehan made a great defensive play to cut down a runner attempting to steal home and got the Saints back to the plate with the score still tied at 14-14. With the international tie-breaker in place, sophomore pinch runner Briana Ong (Coventry, R.I.) was placed on second and moved over to third on a sacrifice bunt by senior first baseman Susie Kieselback (Wethersfield, Conn.). With one out, Madden delivered the walk-off win with her second hit of the morning.

The Bears jumped out to an early 2-0 lead plating two runs in the top of the first with RBI doubles from freshman third baseman Courtney McKenna (Sparta, N.J.) and junior catcher Casey Cruzpino (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.). Emmanuel answered with four runs in the bottom half of the inning to pull ahead, 4-2 behind four hits. Sophomore left fielder Megan Kieselback (Wethersfield, Conn.) got the Saints on the board with a sac-fly with the bags juiced before S. Kieselback gave EC the lead with a two-RBI single up the middle to make it 3-2. Emmanuel added its fourth run of the frame on a two-out RBI double by senior right fielder Brenna Gilmore (San Carlos, Calif.) to account for the 4-2 score.

EC senior pitcher Jill Kilcoyne (Worcester, Mass.) worked out of a one-out bases loaded jam in the third, recording back-to-back strikeouts to preserve the Saints two-run lead at 4-2.

Coast Guard regained the lead with a two-out grand slam to dead centerfield by McKenna giving the Bears a 6-4 lead heading into the bottom of the fourth inning.

The Saints looked to even the score in the bottom of the fourth, collecting four singles in the inning but were unable to score as the Bears executed a double-play and were also the benefactors of a questionable call negating a hit batter with the bases loaded. CGA freshman pitcher Julia Ferris (Falls Church, Va.) took advantage of the call and induced a fly-out to strand the bases loaded.

The Bears added two unearned runs in the fifth and three more runs in the sixth to open the game up to an 11-4 score.

After allowing the four runs in the first, Ferris settled down holding the Saints scoreless until Sendrick connected on an RBI double in the sixth to make it 11-5. The hit sparked some life for EC as sophomore designated player Ashley Skey (Brookline, N.H.) belted a  three-run blast off the top of the centerfield fence to pull the Saints to within three at 11-8. After the home run, CGA sophomore Mackenzie Everett (Palmer, Alaska) came on in relief to retire the side and preserve the three-run lead heading into the final frame.

Cruzpino added some insurance with a three-run bomb in the seventh to bump the lead to 14-8 setting the stage for the Saints late inning heroics.

Sendrick and Rogers finished the day with three hits in their collegiate debut while Sheehan also added three hits and three RBI.

For CGA, McKenna was a perfect 5-for-5 with five RBI and four runs scored. Cruzpino also ended the game with five RBI with a 2-for-3 showing at the plate.

Sophomore Olivia Burgos (Newington, Conn.) earned the win in relief for the Saints tossing the final three innings while Ferris suffered the loss allowing 10 runs (nine earned) on 14 hits over 6.2 innings.

The win was the first career coaching victory for first-year Head Coach Kelsea Cheney.

Emmanuel returns to action immediately taking on Pitt-Greensberg while the Bears wait until 1:00 PM to play Muhlenberg at The Spring Games.