Softball Sweeps GNAC Foe Dean, 12-1 & 5-4, in Saturday Doubleheader

FRANKLIN, Mass. – April 23, 2022 – The Dean College softball team dropped both ends of Saturday's Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) doubleheader to Emmanuel. The Saints won game one 12-1 in five innings and game two 5-4.

Dean (2-21, 1-13 GNAC) has a quick turnaround with another GNAC twin bill tomorrow at Lasell with a first pitch scheduled for noon. Emmanuel (17-9, 10-0 GNAC) also plays tomorrow and will host Anna Maria at noon.

Prior to today's action, Dean honored seniors Avellaka Arviso (Hemet, Calif.), Alexis Ford (Claremont, N.H.), Liv Houlihan (Webster, Mass.), Bridget McDonough (North Reading, Mass.), Miranda Seacord (Cambridge, N.Y.), Shelby Smith (Southwick, Mass.) and manager Jimmy Munro for their years of dedication to the softball program. The team also presented President Rooney with a few gifts for all that she has done for the College in her 27 years of service. 

GAME ONE – Emmanuel 12, Dean 1 (5 inn.)

The Saints put six runs across in the first inning and never looked back. Six different Saints knocked in a run in the frame.

Dean got one back when Alex Marie (Danvers, Mass.) hit a single to bring in Seacord, who reached on a triple.

In the second, Emmanuel's Avery Webb (Hollis, N.H.) recorded her second RBI single in as many at-bats to put the visitors on top 7-1.

Emmanuel scored five more in the fourth to secure the 12-1 win. Webb knocked in another run, while junior Tianna Dawe (Lynn, Mass.) and junior Jadynne Hill (Haverhill, Mass.) each had two-run hits.

Webb finished 3-for-4 with three RBIs and two runs. Sophomore Olivia Conti (Cranston, R.I.) was a perfect 3-for-3 with three runs.

Dawe worked the first three innings and gave up one run on four hits with five strikeouts for Emmanuel. Senior Grace Orcutt (Lexington, Mass.) threw two innings of 2-hit relief with two strikeouts.

Dean junior Zoe Coleman (Warwick, R.I.) tossed a scoreless inning of relief for the Bulldogs.

Marie finished with a 2-for-3 effort to lead Dean at the plate.

GAME TWO – Emmanuel 5, Dean 4

The Bulldogs struck first in game two. Junior Gianna Bencivengo (White Plains, N.Y.) knocked in Seacord on a ground out. Junior Sari Albury (Nassau, Bahamas) then followed with a solo home run to give Dean a 2-0 lead.

Emmanuel cut the deficit in half in the third with a sac fly from Julyanne Pacheco (Somerset, Mass.).

Dean answered with a pair in the bottom of the third on an RBI single from first-year Shirley Chan (Kowloon, Hong Kong) and an error.

Orcutt pulled the Saints within a run in the fourth after hitting a two-run blast to left field.

In the sixth, Orcutt delivered again with a game-tying RBI double. First-year Amanda Penney (Warwick, R.I.), the eventual winning run, then scored on a wild pitch.

Dawe earned the win for Emmanuel after three innings of relief. She allowed just one hit and struck out three.

Orcutt finished 2-for-3 with three RBIs.

Albury was 2-for-2 with an RBI, a run and a walk for Dean.

Coleman pitched well and went the distance for the Bulldogs.

*Portions of this release courtesy Dean Athletic Communications