Saints Softball Clinches No. 2 North Seed After Sunday Split at New England College

HENNIKER, N.H. – The Emmanuel College softball team concluded their 2024 regular season with a split in their doubleheader against New England College in Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) action on Sunday at Old Concord Road Field. Trailing for most of game one, the Pilgrims rallied to prevail 6-5 in extra innings before falling short in game two, 10-0.

With the split, NEC runs their record to 14-22 with a 6-6 record in the GNAC North division. The Pilgrims, who clinched a playoff spot with their sweep at Anna Maria College yesterday, reinforce their playoff position heading into Tuesday's GNAC Play-In round.

GAME 1 – EMMANUEL 5, NEC 6

• The Saints of Emmanuel, who entered the day as the number one seed in the GNAC North, were leading 4-1 going into the bottom of the seventh inning when the Pilgrims offense came alive. After graduate second baseman Emily Gagne (Portsmouth, N.H.) reached on a walk with one out, back-to-back singles by sophomore shortstop Grace Giesler (La Mirada, Calif.) and sophomore designated player Emma Lopez (Downey, Calif.) loaded the bases for NEC. On the very next at-bat, Gagne scored on a foul out, pulling the hosts to within two. Down to their final out, freshman first baseman Abigail Grimes (Baltimore, Md.) stepped to the plate and hit a two-RBI single to left field, sending the game into extra innings, tied at 4-4.
• Trailing 5-4 going into the bottom of the eighth inning, NEC sophomore third baseman Julia Maker (Warwick, R.I.) walked to load the bases with no outs. That set the stage for freshman centerfielder Lauren Hendricks (Fontana, Calif.) to hit a walk-off two-RBI single to right field to plate sophomore right fielder Amaya Rodriguez (Indio, Calif.) to tie it and freshman pitcher Wren Anhalt (Brooksville, Fla.) to win it as the Pilgrims' bench exploded in celebration.
• Anhalt pitched one of her best games to date, allowing just six hits and three earned runs over eight innings for the 'Grims and picking up her second career win.
• Giesler finished with two hits and two runs scored, while freshman catcher Sonia Garcia (San Bernardino, Calif.) went two-for-four with an RBI single in the bottom of the first.
• Emmanuel senior shortstop Olivia Conti (Cranston, R.I.) hit a three-run home run in the top of the third while junior centerfielder Taylor Chelak (Westborough, Mass.) went two-for-four with two runs scored.

GAME 2 – EMMANUEL 10, NEC 0

• In the nightcap, the Pilgrim lineup struggled to create runs. Anhalt entered the game in relief and went two and one-third innings without giving up a run.
• Giesler went two-for-three while freshman outfielder Arianna Bayze (Temecula, Calif.) had her first career double.
• Chelak went four-for-four with a home run and two RBIs. Conti hit another home run, this one scoring two runs.
• Emmanuel sophomore pitcher Mackenzie Briggs (West Warwick, R.I.) allowed just four hits and no runs in a five-inning shutout win.

UP NEXT

With the split, the Saints claimed the No. 2 North seed in the GNAC Postseason and will head to Pod B play starting Thursday, May 2, hosted by the No. 1 South-seeded Lasell Lasers, who won the division and right to host with a walk-off win in their final game on Sunday afternoon against Mitchell. The No. 3 North seed and the No. 4 or No. 5 South seed will join Pod B for a double-elimination tournament on May 2, 4, and 5. The winner of Pod B will go on to face the winner out of Pod A on Friday, May 10, and Saturday, May 11, in a best-of-three series to determine the GNAC Champion. 

**Portions of this release courtesy New England College Athletic Communications Office