Softball Downs No. 11 Christopher Newport in NCAA Opener, 3-2

SEGUIN, Texas - Emmanuel College made its NCAA tournament debut in a big way by downing No. 11 Christopher Newport University, 3-2, in the 2021 NCAA Softball tournament Friday afternoon on the campus of Texas Lutheran University.

Softball Downs No. 11 Christopher Newport in NCAA Opener, 3-2
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Team Stats

May 21, 2021

THE BASICS 

Score:             
No. 11 Christopher Newport University 2; Emmanuel College, 3
Records:         
Emmanuel College Saints (21-4, 9-1 GNAC)
Christopher Newport University Captains (28-13, 4-2 C2C)
Location:         
Seguin, Texas – Ed Kruse Stadium
Date:               
Friday, May 21, 2021

THE LEAD:  Emmanuel College made its NCAA tournament debut in a big way by downing No. 11 Christopher Newport University, 3-2, in the 2021 NCAA Softball tournament Friday afternoon on the campus of Texas Lutheran University.

HOW IT HAPPENED

  • Both squads starting pitchers were in control through four innings as EC senior Megan Long (Greenville, R.I.) and CNU sophomore Grace Vallejos (Fairfax, Va.) dueled to a 0-0 score heading into the fifth inning.
  • The Saints got on the board first with a pair of two-out runs in the fifth behind a two-RBI infield single by junior second baseman Kiana Hinson (Whittier, Calif.) to drive home sophomore centerfielder Julyanne Pacheco (Somerset, Mass.) and first year shortstop Olivia Conti (Cranston, R.I.).
  • Emmanuel added an important insurance run in the sixth to bump its lead to 3-0 as junior Tianna Dawe (Lynn, Mass.) led off the frame with a single to centerfielder and came around to score on an RBI single to center by junior catcher Avery Webb (Hollis, N.H.).
  • The Captains answered with a pair in the bottom half of the sixth to pull within a run at 3-2 as junior Bailey Roberts (Chesapeake, Va.) doubled down the left field line to drive in CNU's first run of the game and chase Long from the action.
  • On in relief, Dawe got junior Sarah Proctor (Mineral, Va.) on an RBI groundout for the second out of the inning before stranding the tying run at third to get out of the jam and preserve the one-run lead heading into the seventh.
  • After surrendering a lead-off walk to senior Natalie Carmichael (Warrenton, Va.) in the seventh, Dawe remained composed and retired the next three batters including 2019 All-American Kaitlyn Hasty (Chesapeake, Va.) on a fly out to end the game for her first career save.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS 

  • Hinson finished the game going 2-for-4 with the big two RBI's in the fifth to open the scoring while Webb and Dawe also each finished with two hits.
  • Long picked up the win in the circle, improving to 11-2 on the year, working 5 1/3 innings, surrendering two runs (one earned) on seven hits while striking out five.
  • Carmichael and Patty Ohanian () paced the Captains with two hits each.
  • Vallejos falls to 12-7 on the year, allowing the three runs on seven hits while also recording five K's before being relieved by senior Emily Weatherholtz (Manassas, Va.) who worked two scoreless innings out of the pen.
  • Conti extended her hitting streak to 17-games with an infield single in the seventh in her final at-bat.
  • Emmanuel improves to 21-1 on the year when holding its opponent to under six runs.

UP NEXT

  • The Saints return to action tomorrow (Saturday, May 22) at 1:30 PM CST and will take on No. 15 Emory & Henry. The Wasps downed Bridgewater State University earlier today by a 4-0 score to stay in the winner's bracket of the region.