The Simmons College softball team has been making history all season long, and it didn't stop Wednesday in the first ever postseason game in team history.
The Sharks, who are seeded third in the ECAC tournament, took on Nichols College, and came away with a 4-1 win, and the first postseason win in program history.
The Sharks looked a little rusty on the early innings as a 10 day layoff appeared to take its toll while the offense worked to get its timing back.
Nichols meanwhile wasted no time getting on the board in the top of the second, as a leadoff doubled followed by a bloop single gave the Bison a 1-0.
After that bloop though Nichols' offense would be silenced by Sharks ace Sammi Letizio.
The sophomore hurler, who has collected plenty of honors this season, kept the Sharks in the game while waiting for the offense to wake up.
There were signs in the third with a walk from Merri Burr, but the Sharks couldn't do anything with it.
That started to wake up the Simmons offense though in the fourth. Annie Thompson picked up the first hit of the game with a one out single to left.
Two batters later Natalie West reached via base on balls. With runners on first and second the stage was set for senior captain Ann Talarico.
Playing still with a badly injured thumb, the team leader refused to let this be her final game.
She worked the count, and found the pitch she liked and drive a deep fly to left field that kept carrying over the fence before coming to rest well beyond the field of play for a go-ahead three run homer, giving the Sharks a 3-1 lead.
Simmons grabbed another run in the fifth when Emily Nalband doubled, and later scored when freshman Dannie Szabo singled her home for her team leading 51st RBI of the season.
Letizio made the 4-1 lead stand up, retiring the final 18 hitters she faced in order. The sophomore ace scattered just the two hits while striking out eight in picking up her school record 21st win of the season.
Her season win total for the season actually surpasses any Simmons team win total in a single season up until this year.
The Sharks advance to the double elimination round of the ECAC tournament which will take place this weekend at Brandeis University. Simmons will take on Keene St. at Noon, while host Brandeis will take on Western New England at 10 a.m.