Simmons Softball opened the 2010 season in sunny Clermont, Fla. during last week's spring break March 7-12. The Sharks, ranked sixth in the preseason Great Northeast Athletic Conference coaches' poll, went 4-2 on the week and are poised to begin their conference campaign after a week of practice back on Boston soil.

"I was extremely happy with how the team played in Florida. It's always nice to finally play on a field after being cooped in the gym for five weeks," said Head Coach Anne Hennigan. "Sometimes it takes a while for a team to warm-up, but this year the Sharks came out firing."

Simmons played six games before the rest of the schedule was cancelled to high wind and rain. The Sharks racked up victories against The Sage Colleges, Hannibal-Lagrange, Northland College and Penn State Behrend, and were defeated once by Dominican University, and once by Hannibal-Lagrange.

Game One: Simmons 12 – The Sage 1

Simmons belted 12 hits and scored 12 runs in their first win of the season. It took a few innings for the Sharks to warm-up, but they opened the floodgates in the top of the sixth, scoring 4 in the frame. The top of the 7th was no different as the Sharks scored 3 more to solidify the win. Sammi Letizio demonstrated outstanding pitching, striking out 13, walking one and giving up only four hits.

Game Two: Simmons 2 – Hannibal-Lagrange 1 (8 innings)

Game two was a pitcher's duel from start to finish, with solid defense aiding in the Sharks' win. In the circle for the Sharks, Courteney Collier struck out 9 batters, 5 of them looking, and allowed only 2 hits through 8 innings. She had a no-hitter through 6 innings. Lagrange's pitching held Simmons to just three hits.

With the score tied up 1-1 at the end of seven innings, the Sharks made quick work to finish the contest. In the bottom of the eighth, Ari King started at second base. Sami Hodgkins' overpowered Lagrange's first baseman with a perfect sacrifice bunt and allowed King to score the winning run.

Game Three: Dominican 18 – Simmons 4 (5 innings)

The Sharks came out to a slow start on their second day of competition. After finishing the exhausting extra inning win on Sunday night at 9:30pm, the Sharks were back on the field early Monday morning to face Dominican. Dominican came out swinging and the Sharks pitching and defense was not as sharp as it was the day before. The Sharks defensive miscues allowed Dominican to score 18 runs and the Sharks could only come up with 4 of their own. Both Katelyn Bourgeois and Hodgkins made their college debut in the circle as they both came in, in relief.

Game Four: Hannibal-Lagrange 3 - Simmons 2 (8 innings)

Less than 24 hours after their first meeting, Simmons and Lagrange once again faced off in what would be an 8-inning battle. Two different pitchers showcased their mettle in this matchup, with Letizio striking out 5 and holding Lagrange's offense to six hits scattered throughout the game.

In the top of the sixth, the Sharks had a Stephanie Murray leadoff with an infield single, and Annie Thompson followed with a perfectly placed bunt. Emily Nalband then hit a high fly to right field, and Murray was picked off at third trying to advance on the catch. With two outs, Ashley Wheeler drew a walk to place runners on first and second. Collier then roped the first pitch she saw to left center, scoring Thompson and tying the game at 1-1.

With a runner starting at second in the bottom of the eighth, Lagrange placed a sacrifice bunt and advanced the runner to third. With one out, Letizio walked the next batter, who then stole second. With runners at second and third, the next batter hit a grounder to Thompson at shortstop, who connected with catcher Nalband to stop the runner from scoring. With two outs and two runners still on base, the #2 hitter delivered a clutch double to left center, scoring the two runs and securing the win for Lagrange.

Game Five: Simmons 2 – Northland 0

It took a couple of innings for the Sharks offense to warm up, but in the top of the fourth inning Simmons plated two runs—all they would need for the win as Letizio pitched lights out, surrendering only one hit through seven innings.

Letizio shut down Northland by striking out six and walking none. She had a perfect game through 4 2/3 innings when an error was made allowing a runner to reach first. Letizio gave up the first hit – a single – in the bottom of the seventh with one out. The Sharks defense remained calm and silenced Northland's threat to make a late inning run. Letizio faced only two batters over the minimum, and gained her second win of the season.

Game Six: Simmons 2 – Penn State Behrend 1

Simmons won their fourth game of the trip in a nail-biter over the 2009 NCAA Tournament qualifiers from Penn State Behrend. The Sharks jumped ahead in the bottom of the first when Thompson led off with a single down the right field line. Nalband laid down a perfect sacrifice bunt, moving Thompson into scoring position and setting up an RBI situation for Collier. Collier produced for the Sharks, singling in Thompson for the first run of the game.

Behrend tied up the game in the top of the third, after their leadoff batter singled and stole second to move into scoring position. With one out, the #3 batter singled to left, allowing the runner on second to score and tie the game. Simmons wasted no time, answering back in the bottom of the third. Thompson led off with a walk, and Nalband moved her to second base with her second sacrifice bunt of the game. Collier was awarded first after being hit in the knee by a pitch. Wheeler then hit into a 1-5 fielder's choice, moving Collier to second. Leah Derderian delivered with an RBI single, scoring Collier and securing another Simmons win.

Collier was also effective for Simmons in the circle, striking out nine batters, walking two, and allowing only four singles.

"I was very impressed that every member of the team contributed to every win in some way," said Hennigan. "We tried out a lot of different lineups, and the versatility of the team allowed us to win games many different ways. The team was frustrated with not being able to play our last four games, but I think that just made us hungrier for our conference season to begin."

The Sharks will face MIT in Cambridge, Mass. on Thursday, March 18 at 4:00pm, and will open GNAC play when they travel to Rivier for a doubleheader on Saturday, March 20 at 1:00pm.