SOFTBALL SPLITS GNAC TWINBILL WITH SUFFOLK

THE BASICS 

Score:             
GM 1 - Suffolk University 3; Emmanuel College, 5
GM 2 – Suffolk University 14; Emmanuel College, 6 (6 inn.)
Records:         
Emmanuel College Saints (18-12, 9-1 GNAC)
Suffolk University Rams (16-13, 6-2 GNAC)
Location:         
Boston, Mass. – Roberto Clemente Field
Date:               
Thursday, April 18, 2019

THE LEAD:  The Emmanuel College softball team split a Great Northeast Athletic Conference twinbill with visiting Suffolk University Thursday evening by taking Game 1, 5-3, before falling in Game 2, 14-6, at Roberto Clemente Field.

HOW IT HAPPENED  
GAME 1

• Emmanuel junior second baseman Kerry Sendrick (Medway, Mass.) broke a 2-2 tie with a two-run homer in the third inning to give the Saints the lead for good, giving the hosts a 4-2 lead.
• EC added a run in the fourth on an RBI single to left by freshman third baseman Renea Lacroix (Cumberland, R.I.) to make it 5-2.
• Suffolk would get the run back in the sixth on a pinch hit solo home run by freshman Riley Mulligan (Lincoln, R.I.) but the Rams could not complete the comeback as the 5-3 score held.
• The visitors got the scoring started in the first with a two-run dinger by senior shortstop Jaclyn Flint (Medfield, Mass.) but the Saints responded with two to tie the game in the second on a two-RBI double to left by senior outfielder Olivia Burgos (Newington, Conn.).
• EC senior pitcher Megan Kieselback (Wethersfield, Conn.) settled down after allowing the first inning blast, allowing just three hits the rest of the way to record her eighth win of the year, striking out 12 along the way.
• Suffolk sophomore hurler Constance Phelan (Longwood, Fla.) suffered the loss to fall to 3-3 on the season.

GAME 2

• Suffolk plated six runs with two outs in the third inning to erase a 2-0 deficit and take control of the action in the nightcap with a 6-2 cushion. Junior Ashley Zulla (Columbus, N.J.), Flint, sophomore Kelly Keane (Hamilton, N.J.), freshman Brooke Cloak (Mullica Hill, N.J.) and senior McKenzie McGrath (Exeter, N.H.) all had RBI hits in the frame.
• The Rams added three unearned runs in the fourth to bump the lead to 9-2 on an three-RBI double to right field by Keane that cleared the bases following an Emmanuel dropped foul ball that extended the inning.
• The Saints kept the score in check with a four-run fifth inning to pull within three at 9-6. Freshman catcher Avery Webb (Hollis, N.H.) along with junior outfielder Sarah Hoisl (West Hartford, Conn.) drew walks with the bases loaded to drive in runs while Burgos produced and RBI groundout in the frame.
• Suffolk refused to let the hosts complete a rally, pushing across five more runs in the sixth to account for the 14-6 final. Flint blasted a two-RBI double to center while Cloak, sophomore Hailey Cockroft (Windham, N.H.) and freshman Caitlin Murphy (Abington, Mass.) all picked up an RBI in the frame.Freshman Kennedy Reyes (Taunton, Mass.) earned the win in the circle going four innings while allowing five runs (four earned) while scatted just three hits. 

INSIDE THE NUMBERS 

• The 9-0 start in GNAC play marked the best start in conference play in program history for Emmanuel.
• Sendrick and Burgos have now both hit safely in four straight games.
• Kieselback had not allowed a home run over her previous 16 innings of work prior to the first-inning shot by Flint in Game 1.
• The Saints were unable to take advantage of nine walks and one hit batter in Game 2, stranding nine baserunners in the game.
• EC stole six bases on the night and currently leads the GNAC in total stolen bases with 73 thefts on the year.
  

UP NEXT

• The Saints are scheduled to return to the diamond on Saturday, April 20 at 1:00 PM for an important GNAC showdown against Saint Joseph's College (ME), weather pending.
• Suffolk is also scheduled to play on Saturday, hosting Albertus Magnus at 12:00 PM.