Simmons Softball opened Great Northeast Athletic Conference play on Sunday against Emmanuel College with a doubleheader split. Junior pitcher Sammi Letizio (Windham, N.H.) held Emmanuel to a 1-hitter, striking out seven and walking two to lead the Sharks to a 12-0 game one victory. Simmons dropped the evening game 4-2 to the Saints. Simmons is now 3-10 overall; 1-1 GNAC.

Game one featured a superior pitching performance by Letizio (Windham, N.H.). Letizio maintained a no-hitter until Emmanuel's junior center fielder Samantha Luther (Carlisle, Mass.) singled in the bottom of the sixth, the Saints' only hit of the game, coming in the team's last at-bat.

Simmons and Emmanuel played through two scoreless innings, until the Sharks scored two runs in the third to lead 2-0. The fifth and sixth proved to be monster innings for the Sharks, as they posted five runs in each to take away a 12-0 win.

The Sharks' offense was paced by sophomore shortstop Annie Thompson (Pacific Palisades, Calif.), who went four for four in the game, including three singles, as well as a solo homerun in the top of the fifth. Sophomore Emily Nalband (Litchfield, Conn.) had a home run, and Simmons' rookie DP Ashley Wheeler (Nashua, N.H.) hit two for three with a homer in the sixth, which helped end the game early for the Sharks.

Game two's 4-2 outcome was a reversal of the prolific Sharks hitting of game one. Sophomore pitcher Courteney Collier (Bolton, Mass.) only let up 4 hits, but a couple of errors and walks did the damage. Emmanuel scored on their opening at-bat, while the Saints' Luther led off and reached on an error. She was advanced twice by freshmen Christina Proulx (Boxborough, Mass.) and Ariana Liakos  (Litchfield, N.H.) and then scored on a wild pitch to put the Saints up, 1-0.

Simmons tied things up in the top of the second after a double by junior first-baseman Leah Derderian (Boylston, Mass.) and an Emmanuel throwing error.

Emmanuel took over the lead again in the third inning, when freshman third-baseman Chelsey Guselli (Methuen, Mass.) tripled, scoring left-fielder Erin McSheffrey (Woburn, Mass.), who had reached on a walk. Junior shortstop Danielle Andruskiwec (Orange, Conn.) then drove in Guselli to give the Saints a 3-1 edge.

A double to left field by junior right-fielder Kristina Borrelli (Kingston, Mass.) gave the Saints their first base runner of the fourth inning. Borrelli was advanced by freshman catcher Kristen Landers (Worcester, Mass.) and Luther, before scoring off a shot down the third-base line by Proulx. Borrelli's run gave the Saints a three-run cushion heading into the fifth.

Two scoreless innings were played before the Sharks put their final run on the board. Sophomore centerfielder Stephanie Murray (Groveland, Mass.) reached on a bunt and was advanced to third after another single by Thompson, who went six for eight on the day. A late double by Derderian knocked in Murray, to bring the score to 4-2. Simmons stranded two in the seventh and Emmanuel came away with the 4-2 victory.

The Sharks will return to action on Friday, March 27 at 3:00pm, away at Saint Joseph College of Maine.