SOFTBALL TEAM SPLITS WITH JWU ON OPENING DAY AT CLEMENTE FIELD
March 20, 2010
BOSTON, Mass. - The Emmanuel Saints played in their first softball games on the newly renovated Roberto Clemente Field this Saturday. The Saints' home opener was also kicked off Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) play, as Emmanuel hosted Johnson & Wales University in a double-header. The Saints split with the Wildcats, as JWU took the first contest, 2-1, and Emmanuel won the nightcap, 8-3.
The host Saints held an early 1-0 lead over the Wildcats in the opening game, as senior center-fielder Samantha Luther (Carlisle, Mass.) led off with an infield base hit and sophomore third baseman Chelsey Guselli (Methuen, Mass.) moved her around to third with a base hit of her own. Sophomore catcher Elyse Turgeon (Dracut, Mass.) picked up the RBI, scoring Luther in the bottom of the first.
Emmanuel's defense held the visitors scoreless through five innings, as freshman pitcher Kelly Lloid (Issaquah, Wash.) didn't give up a hit until the fourth inning. In the top of the sixth, freshman left-fielder Mackenzie Pickerd (Newport, N.Y.) ripped a ground-rule double and was knocked home by sophomore shortstop Korissa Bailey's (Pelham, N.H.) long shot to right field. Despite an Emmanuel double by Turgeon in the bottom of the frame, the Saints went down quickly, as Johnson & Wales had knotted the contest at 1-all, heading into the seventh inning.
The Wildcats opened the seventh with a single from senior first-baseman Liana Rivera (Queens, N.Y.). Sophomore catcher Lauren Lomonaco (Southampton, N.J.) then reached on an unsuccessful fielder's choice, before an Emmanuel throwing error scored Rivera for the go-ahead run. Despite a single to right by sophomore Jesse Hutchins (Sebago, Maine), the Saints couldn't put much together in the bottom of the inning and dropped the contest, 2-1.
Rookie hurler Rachel Marino (Northbridge, Mass.) went the distance for the Wildcats, picking up the win, while striking out six and giving up eight hits. Lloid took the loss for the Saints, striking out five Wildcats and giving up just four hits.
In the second game, Emmanuel stormed out to a 7-0 lead through five innings, with the majority of the scoring coming in a five-run third inning. The Wildcat pitcher hit a pair of Emmanuel batters and walked another two, before the JWU defense made two errors, scoring Guselli, Danielle Andruskiwec (Orange, Conn.), Turgeon, Erin McSheffrey (Woburn, Mass.) and Hutchins to put EC on top, 5-0.
The Saints tacked on two more runs in the fourth, courtesy of a double by Guselli and a single by Andruskiwec. Emmanuel's sophomore pitcher Kathryn Copp (Fremont, N.H.) gave up just two hits through five innings for the Saints and the Emmanuel defense held JWU scoreless until the top of the sixth.
The Wildcats opened up the sixth inning with consecutive singles from Bailey and Holliann Barry (Newburgh, N.Y.). Barry's hit knocked in Bailey, before Lomonaco ripped the third hit of the inning, scoring Barry and JWU trailed 7-2.
The Saints added one more run in the bottom of the sixth, when Guselli's second double of the game scored Luther. The Wildcats managed one more run in the seventh, but could not close the gap, and Emmanuel came away with the 8-3 victory.
Guselli finished the day going 4 for 6 from the plate with two doubles, while Luther went 3 for 6 to lead Emmanuel's offense. Copp recorded the win, throwing five innings and giving up just two hits. Junior pitcher Amanda Rae Sullivan (East Granby, Conn.) took the loss for JWU.
The Saints are now 5-4 on the season and 1-1 in GNAC play, while JWU stands at 1-8 overall and 1-1 in the league. Emmanuel will play again on Friday evening in a double-header at Albertus Magnus College in New Haven, Connecticut.