SOFTBALL TEAM DROPS TWO IN WEST HARTFORD
April 16, 2010
WEST HARTFORD, Conn. - Emmanuel College dropped both games of a Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) softball double-header to Saint Joseph College on Friday evening. The wins helped the Blue Jays to clinch a spot in the upcoming GNAC tournament. The losses were the 11th and 12th straight for the Saints, who are desperately in need of some victories in order to snag a play-off berth.
Saint Joseph College junior April Campanella (Berlin, CT) doubled home the winning run with two out in the bottom of the seventh inning in a dramatic game 1 victory for the Blue Jays, who won the opener 2-1. The hosts rallied behind the four-hitter of junior Kristin Parente (Burlington, CT) to complete the sweep with a 4-0 win in game 2.
Saint Joseph clinched a berth in the eight-team GNAC tournament after being picked to finish out of playoffs in the annual pre-season coaches poll. "We're very glad to be in this position," Saint Joseph coach Jim McKinnon said. "If we play good defense and get good pitching, we're in every game. And our team keeps battling."
Emmanuel put the opening run on the board, when senior center-fielder Samantha Luther (Carlisle, Mass.) tripled to right center in the top of the sixth inning. Sophomore Chelsey Guselli (Methuen, Mass.) then hit a sacrifice fly to right, which scored Luther.
Saint Joseph battled back, trailing 1-0 into the bottom of the seventh. Bryanna Durant (Middletown, CT) hit a one-out double and pinch-runner Olivia Tisdell (Worcester, MA) went to third when Kelly Balanca (West Haven, CT) reached on an error. Ashley Ryan (Waterbury, CT) grounded out to first with Tisdell racing home to tie the score and Saige Dupont (Brooklyn, CT), running for Balanca, advanced to second. Campanella then blasted a double to left center to easily score Dupont and end the game in walk-off fashion.
Emily Hummell (Hebron, CT) allowed three hits, no walks and struck out four for her 11th victory of the season. In the second game, Parente allowed four hits, no walks and struck out six for her second shutout of the year.
Melanie Bush (Bristol, CT) went 2-for-3 with two doubles, a run scored and an RBI for Saint Joseph. Hummel went 3-for-3 with an RBI.
Game two featured just four hits by Emmanuel, including singles by Christina Proulx (Boxborough, Mass.), Elyse Turgeon (Dracut, Mass.), Danielle Andruskiwec (Orange, Conn.) and Jackie Murray (Saugus, Mass.).
Saint Joseph hosts Simmons in a noon doubleheader, Sat. April 17. Emmanuel is scheduled to host Pine Manor in a noon start on Saturday at Roberto Clemente Field.
Courtesy of Saint Joseph College Sports Information