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Emmanuel College

Conti Blasts Walk-Off in 7-6 Win vs. Simmons; SB Splits with Sharks

BOSTON, Mass. – Junior shortstop Olivia Conti (Cranston, R.I.) belted two solo home runs on the night including a walk-off blast in the bottom of the seventh inning of Game 2 to lift Emmanuel College to a 7-6 win over Simmons University in Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) softball action Wednesday evening at Roberto Clemente Field. The Sharks took Game 1 in the twinbill, 4-1, with the lone EC run coming on Conti’s HR. 

Conti Blasts Walk-Off in 7-6 Win vs. Simmons; SB Splits with Sharks
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April 12, 2023

THE BASICS 

Score: 
Simmons University, 4 vs. Emmanuel College, 1
Emmanuel College, 7, Simmons University, 6

Records: 
Emmanuel Saints (13-11, 5-1 GNAC)
Simmons Sharks (15-11, 3-1 GNAC)

Location: Boston, Mass. – Roberto Clemente Field

Date: Wednesday, April 12, 2023

BOSTON, Mass. – Junior shortstop Olivia Conti (Cranston, R.I.) belted two solo home runs on the night including a walk-off blast in the bottom of the seventh inning of Game 2 to lift Emmanuel College to a 7-6 win over Simmons University in Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) softball action Wednesday evening at Roberto Clemente Field. The Sharks took Game 1 in the twinbill, 4-1, with the lone EC run coming on Conti's HR. 

HOW IT HAPPENED (GM 1)

  • Simmons drew first blood with an unearned run in the top of the second to jump out to an early 1-0 advantage before doubling the lead to 2-0 in the third on an RBI triple down the right field line by senior pitcher Maddie Castigliego (Bristol, R.I.).
  • EC cut the deficit in half in the bottom half of the frame on a solo blast to left center by Conti to make it 2-1.
  • The Sharks added two huge insurance runs in the fifth to bump the lead to 4-1. Both runs were also unearned as Shannon McMahon (El Cajon, Calif.) and Castigliego collected RBIs in the frame.
  • EC threatened in the bottom of the seventh, loading the bases with no outs but a sharp defensive play to turn two followed by a punch out to end the action to give Simmons the 4-1 GNAC North win.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS (GM 1)

  • The Saints outhit the Sharks, 7-5 in the loss as Tianna Dawe (Lynn, Mass.) was a tough-luck loser in the circle. The senior allowed the four runs (one earned) on five hits while striking out five to drop to 5-10 on the year.
  • Castigliego earned the win going the distance, scattering seven hits to go with a season-high 11 K's. She became the new All-Time wins leader for Simmons softball with 55 career wins. 
  • EC sophomore Sammy Hayes (Braintree, Mass.) went 2-for-3 at the plate to pace the Saints while Simmons first year shortstop Leah Connor (Broomfield, Colo.) also collected two hits with a 2-for-4 showing.
  • The home run for Conti was her 19th career blast, moving her into second all-time on the career HR list at Emmanuel past Yuleska Ramirez-Tejeda '20 who had 18 over her two+ playing seasons with the Saints.

HOW IT HAPPENED (GM 2)

  • Conti's walk-off home run was her second career walk-off, the first also coming against the Sharks last season in GNAC tournament.  She led off the seventh and delivered the deep blast to right centerfield for her 20th career home run to lift EC to the 7-6 win.
  • Sophomore outfielder Taylor Chelak (Westborough, Mass.) delivered a two-out RBI double in the bottom of the sixth inning to break a 5-5 tie and plate Dawe for the go-ahead run to give EC a 6-5 lead. The Saints led 5-0 before the Sharks rallied to even the score late in the action.
  • Simmons got the run back in the top of the seventh to once again even the score at 6-6 on an RBI single to right by first year Teagan Buckley (Barrington, R.I.) before Conti's seventh-inning heroics.
  • Emmanuel reset and got out to a quick start in Game 2, plating three runs in the first to take and hold the lead for the remainder of the night. Senior Maegan Amsler (Hanover, Mass.) belted a two-RBI double to right-center to make it 2-0. She came around to score to move the lead to 3-0 thanks to a Simmons miscue.
  • Amsler picked up another RBI in the third with an RBI groundout giving the Saints a 4-0 cushion. Later in the frame, senior outfielder Lylah Niederberger (Buzzards Bay, Mass.) picked up an RBI on a sac fly to plate Conti to give the hosts a 5-0 advantage.
  • Simmons got three back in the fifth on a three-run shot to left by sophomore Raya Anderson (Rollinsford, N.H.). The home run was the first of her collegiate career to pull the Sharks back to within striking distance at 5-3.
  • After the blast, EC first year pitcher Mackenzie Briggs (West Warwick, R.I.) regrouped and retired the side in the fifth to preserve the two-run lead heading into the late innings.
  • A two-RBI double in the sixth by Connor tied the score at 5-5 and chased Briggs from the game. On in relief, Dawe picked up a clutch third out of the inning on a big strikeout to strand Connor in scoring position.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS (GM 2)

  • Conti was 2-for-3 with the HR and three runs scored.
  • Amsler finished the game going 2-for-3 with three RBI and a run scored.
  • Along with scoring a run in the sixth, Dawe worked the final four outs to pick up a win in relief.
  • Piper Kinney (Marlborough, Mass.) suffered the loss for Simmons and moves to 5-4 on the season.

UP NEXT

  • Both teams return to action on Saturday, April 15 at 12:00 & 2:00 PM. The Sharks host University of Hartford at Daly Field while the Saints travel to West Hartford, Conn. to take on University of Saint Joseph.