BIG SIXTH INNING POWERS SOFTBALL PAST WHEATON, 5-2

LEESBURG, Fla. – Emmanuel College scored five unanswered runs to come-from-behind for a 5-2 victory over Wheaton College (Ill.) Wednesday morning in Day three softball action at the NTC Spring Games at Sleepy Hollow Park. The Saints sweep the day and improve to 3-3 on the year while the loss drops Wheaton to 2-6 overall.

After a scoreless first, the Thunder struck in the second taking a 2-0 lead on a two-run homer to centerfield by freshman left fielder Maddy Bonetto (Phoenix, Ariz.).

Wheaton threatened in the fourth with back-to-back singles by sophomore first baseman Kelly Thornton (Carol Stream, Ill.) and freshman right fielder Morgan Ryan (La Habra, Calif.) to open the inning. Some sharp defense by the Saints erased Morgan on the base paths with a double play and EC got out of the jam as sophomore starting pitcher Megan Kieselback (Wethersfield, Conn.) retired the side with a strikeout to keep in a 2-0 game.

The Saints exploded for five runs in the sixth inning to take control of the action with a 5-2 lead. Emmanuel benefited from two Thunder errors and four of the five runs proved to be unearned to shift the momentum.  Sophomore third baseman Ashely Skey (Brookline, N.H.) reached via an error to start the frame and was replaced by pinch runner Briana Ong (Coventry, R.I.). Ong advanced into scoring position on a wild pitch and moved to third on a single by senior first baseman Susie Kieselback (Wethersfield, Conn.).  Next up, senior Kara Madden (Silver Spring, Md.) singled to put the Saints on the board and make it 2-1. M. Kieselback reached on another error, scoring her sister to even the score at 2-2. Sophomore centerfield Olivia Burgos (Newington, Conn.) gave Emmanuel the lead with an RBI single in the hole at short before an RBI groundout by freshman shortstop Kerry Sendrick (Medway, Mass.) made it 4-2. EC capped the scoring with an RBI single to right field by freshman second baseman Sydney Rogers (Southwick, Mass.) to account for the 5-2 score.

Rogers ended the game going 2-for-3 with an RBI while S. Kieselback and Madden each finished with two hits and a run scored.

M. Kieselback made it hold up, limiting the Thunder to just four singles over the final five innings to notch the win and improve to 1-1 on the season. WC junior pitcher Kendall Kehres (Doylestown, Ohio) suffered the loss allowing three runs (one earned) in relief.

Emmanuel returns to action tomorrow afternoon for a 3:30 PM game against Concordia (Ill.) at the Legends Way complex while Wheaton in back at the same time vs. Ohio Northern University.