Softball Opens GNAC Play with Sweep Over Norwich

BOSTON, Mass. – Emmanuel College opened Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) play Saturday afternoon with a doubleheader sweep of Norwich University at Roberto Clemente Field. The Saints captured Game 1, 8-3, before posting a 7-5 win in Game 2.

THE BASICS 

Score: 
Emmanuel College, 8; Norwich University, 3
Emmanuel College, 7, Norwich University, 5
Records: 
Emmanuel College Saints (5-3, 2-0 GNAC)
Norwich University Cadets (1-5, 0-4 CCIW)
Location: Boston, Mass. – Roberto Clemente Field
Date: Saturday, April 3, 2021

HOW IT HAPPENED (GM 1)

• Norwich opened the scoring with a pair of runs in the third on RBI singles from Nina Biello (Cranston, R.I.) and Annika Beebe (Marianna, Fla.) to give the Cadets a 2-0 lead.
• EC almost got one back in the bottom half of the frame but a stellar defensive play cut down a runner at the plate to keep the visitors on top, 2-0.
• Heading into the bottom of the fifth, Emmanuel had only collected a pair of singles off of Beebe but the Saints bats came to lift in the frame, exploding for four runs on six hits. Junior second basemen Kiana Hinson (Whittier, Calif.) deliver a two-RBI double to tie the game at 2-2 and junior catcher Avery Webb (Hollis, N.H.) followed it up with an RBI single down the left field line to put Emmanuel on top for good. Sophomore third baseman Maegan Amsler (Hanover, Mass.) added an RBI double to left to plate the fourth EC run in the inning.
• The Saints kept the pressure on in the sixth, plating four more runs to create some separation for Norwich with an 8-2 score. Sophomore outfielder Julyanne Pacheco (Somerset, Mass.) connected on a double to right-center to drive in a pair before sophomore Jadynne Hill (Haverhill, Mass.) knocked her in with another double to right-center. Hill came around to score on an RBI single up the middle by Hinson.
• The Cadets got one run back in the seven on an inside the park home run down the left field line by Felicia Armell (North Ferrisburgh, Vt.) but EC senior Megan Long (Greenfield, R.I.) closed the door for the 8-3 win.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Long (Greenfield, R.I.) threw a complete game to move to 3-1 on the season striking out 10 and allowing three runs on seven hits.
• Hinson paced the Saints offense going 3-for-4 with three RBI while Webb, Pacheco and Hill all notched two hits in the win.
• Caitlin Dailey (Topsham, Maine) and Liliana Rolfe (Plainville, Mass.) led the Cadets, each going 2-for-3 in the loss.
• Beebe suffered the loss and falls to 0-3, surrendering four runs on seven hits while striking out one.

HOW IT HAPPENED (GM 2)

• Norwich jumped out to another early lead, scoring two in the first and one in the second for a 3-0 cushion. Dara Kelly (Chesterfield, N.J.) and Elizabeth Niven (Londonderry, N.H.) drove home runs in the first on RBI doubles before Laura Deaton (Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.) scored in the second on a wild pitch.
• EC settled down and got on the board in the bottom of the second on an RBI single to right by junior outfielder Renae Lacroix (Cumberland, R.I.) to make it 3-1.
• The Saints jumped ahead in the third with three runs on just one hit to build a 4-3 lead but NU immediately tied the game at 4-4 in the fourth with the help of an Emmanuel miscue.
• The Cadets briefly regained the lead at 5-4 on an RBI groundout by Maggie Rasmussen (Kingston, N.H.) in the fifth but Emmanuel responded in the bottom half of the inning with a two-run blast by Hill to put the hosts on top for good at 6-5.
• Hinson added an insurance run in the sixth, belting her first home run with the Saints to account for the 7-5 final

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• EC sophomore hurler Tianna Dawe (Lynn, Mass.) earned the win going the distance, allowing five runs (four earned) while scattering nine hits to go along with four strikeouts.
• Beebe earned the loss in Game 2 in relief, allowing three runs on four whiles while striking out four.
• Dawe helped her own caused at the plate collecting two hits and scoring a run while Hinson added two hits, one run and one RBI.

UP NEXT

• Emmanuel is idle until Saturday, April 10 when they host Fenway foe Simmons University at 1:30 PM.
• Suffolk is back in action on Monday, April 5 heading to Henniker, N.H. to take on New England College at 3:00 PM.