Rally Falls Short as Softball Drops 4-3 Decision to Emerson

THE BASICS 

Score:             
Emerson College, 4; Emmanuel College, 3
Records:         
Emmanuel College Saints (1-7, 0- GNAC)
Emerson College Lions (10-2, 0-0 CCC)
Location:         
Boston, Mass. – Rotch Field
Date:               
Tuesday, March 22, 2022

THE LEAD:  A four-run fourth powered host Emerson College past Emmanuel, 4-3, Tuesday afternoon in non-conference softball action at Rotch Field in Boston, Mass.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Emmanuel opened the scoring with a pair of runs in the top of the third inning on a two-RBI double by senior catcher Avery Webb (Hollis, N.H.), plating sophomore shortstop Olivia Conti (Cranston, R.I.) and junior outfielder Julyanne Pacheco (Somerset, Mass.) to make it a 2-0 game.
• Emerson capitalized on two defensive miscues by Emmanuel and three hits to piece together a four-run bottom of the fourth to jump in front, 4-2. Back-to-back singles to start off the frame put runners on first and second with no outs before the Lions' first run came in when Claire Overton reached on a throwing error by the pitcher. 
• Emerson kept its inning alive with two outs when Grace Beaulieu roped an RBI double to the center field wall to bring in both Overton and freshman Ally Lacey to take the 3-2 edge. Beaulieu came around to plate the fourth Lions' run after Zannotti reached first on another Emmanuel throwing error.
• The Saints got one run back in its half of the seventh after Conti laced a two-out single into right to bring in junior outfielder Jadynne Hill (Haverhill, Mass.) to move the Saints within one at 4-3. Lions senior Cali Pratt retired the final batter to pick up the win in the circle.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS 

• Pratt improves to 5-0 on the year going the distance and allowing three runs on four hits while striking out 12.
• Dawe (0-5) was the tough-luck loser, tossing six innings of five hit ball and allowing four runs, all unearned in the fourth inning while striking out three.
• Conti was the only player on the day to record multiple hits going 2-for-3 with a walk, run scored and RBI.
• Webb and Beaulieu finished the day going 1-for-3 with two RBI for their respective teams.

OF NOTE

• Game 2 of the scheduled doubleheader was cancelled due to the wind chill and weather conditions.
• Former Emmanuel College Head Coach Rob Spofford (2013-16) is now a member of the coaching staff at Emerson.
• Current Emmanuel College Head Coach Olivia Berry served as an Assistant Coach on Spofford's staff in 2015.
• Spofford left Emmanuel as the program's winningest Head Coach with 77 wins and Coach Berry is now just one win shy of matching and two of surpassing Spofford for the program lead in coaching victories.

UP NEXT

• The Saints return to action on Thursday, March 24 for their home-opener at Roberto Clemente Field, taking on their COF neighbor Wentworth Institute of Technology in a non-conference twinbill scheduled to begin at 5:00 PM.
• Emerson plays host to Suffolk on Friday, March 25 in a doubleheader starting at 3:00 PM at Rotch.