Sharks take two in thrilling fashion

The Simmons College softball team continued it's impressive run on Sunday sweeping a doubleheader from Suffolk in impressive fashion.

The day started out with pomp and circumstance as it was senior day for the Sharks, as the softball program honored it's two seniors, Ann Talarico, and Natalie West for their achievements and contributions to the softball program at Simmons.

Once the festivities were over, the Sharks got down to work quickly. Starter Sammi Letizio set the tone early striking out the side, including reigning conference player of the year Jess Ferreira.

Simmons got its bats going in the second inning when West led off the inning with a solo home run. Sam Green followed with and scored on Annie Thompson's RBI single. Freshman Emily Nalband then drove home Letizio, who had reached on a walk,  with an RBI single.

Those three runs would be all Letizio would need as she spun a gem, allowing just three hits while striking out 10 to pick up her 13th win of the season. 

Talarico provided some insurance in the late innings with an RBI double.

In the nightcap the Rams took the early lead, but Simmons fought back to tie it in the second when freshman Dannie Szabo singled, stole second and scored on an RBI groundout from Green.

The Sharks went ahead 3-1 with two more in the fourth, thanks to an RBI double from West, who also scored on a triple from Leah Derderian.

West was strong in the circle for five innings, and but ran into trouble in the sixth. Letizio came on in relief but the Sharks defense was spotty, and kept the inning alive for four Suffolk runs to give the Rams a 6-4 lead.

The Sharks took the two run deficit into the home half of the seventh when Kristen Souza led off with a triple.

The Rams made a pitching change bringing back their ace, Ferreira but she couldn't get Thompson, who singled home Souza  to cut the deficit to 6-5.

After a fielders choice forced Thompson out at second, and left Emily Nalband at first, Ferreira got the second out of the inning.

With two outs and the tying run at first Szabo strode to the plate, despite the Suffolk outfield playing especially deep, the freshman third baseman launched the second pitch she saw deep into the night and circled the bases for a thrilling walk-off two run homer to give the Sharks a 7-6 triumph.

Simmons currently stands at 14-4 in the conference and in second place. They will take on Mt. Ida today at 3 p.m.