SAINTS DROP TWO ON DAY 2 OF SPRING TRAINING

CLERMONT, Fla. – Emmanuel College dropped a pair of softball decisions Monday evening in Day 2 action of the NTC Spring Games. The Saints opened the day with a 3-2 loss to Catholic University in walk-off fashion before falling to Alvernia College, 15-0. The Saints now stand at 1-3 on the year.

GAME 1 vs. Catholic

Emmanuel struck first in the bottom of the second off of Catholic starting pitcher Kelly Lynch. A leadoff walk by junior first baseman Ashley Skey (Brookline, N.H.) started the momentum. Skey was moved to third off of a double by freshman Megan Long (Smithfield, R.I) and knocked in by a ground ball to the right side by freshman third baseman Emily Blanchard (Sturbridge, Mass.).
 
Catholic then answered with two runs right away in the top of the third, taking their first lead of the game. Marissa Deblasie (Tilton, N.H.) started the inning with a solo homerun off of starting EC pitcher Megan Kieselback (Wethersfield, Conn.). After one out, Makayla Czan (Hyattsville, Md.) was able to connect for a double, moved to third on a passed ball and scored off of a sacrifice fly by Megan Colline (Bridgewater, N.J.), 2-1.
 
The Saints were held scoreless until the top of the fifth when they were able to tie the game at two apiece. Junior shortstop Audrey Esakoff (Ventura, Calif.) started the inning off with a double in the gap, moved to third by a sacrifice bunt from Olivia Burgos (Newington, Conn.), and driven in off of a single to right field by freshman designated player Kaitlin Bouchard (South Portland, Maine).
 
Both teams were held scoreless until the bottom of the seventh where Catholic's Alyssa Kean (Hamilton, N.J.) knocked in Giselle Diaz (Darien, Ill.) in walk off fashion off of junior pitcher Burgos to win over the Saints 3-2.

GAME 2 vs. Alvernia

Alvernia scored early off of Emmanuel fielding errors to overtake the Saints Monday evening at The Spring Games.

Both teams were help scoreless in the first before Alvernia jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the second inning off of four singles and two errors by the Saints defense. Down 4-0 at the start of the inning, the Saints recorded their first hit of the day by Esakoff, but could not push her across the plate.

The Golden Wolves were able to push another eleven runs across off of the EC pitching staff in the last three innings of the game. Joannah Lim (Delanco. N.J.) hit a three run home run to clear the bases in the third and MCKenzie Miessau (East Haven, Conn.) and Jocelyn Flores (Warminster, Penn.) hit back to back doubles in the fifth to finish the game in run rule fashion, 15-0.

The Saints return to action Wednesday for two games in the Florida swing taking on Finlandia at 9:00 AM followed by an 11:00 AM contest vs. St. Elizabeth.