Sharks Solid on Senior Day

Simmons Softball served up a double win on Senior Day over Great Northeast Athletic Conference rival Emmanuel College (5-0, 6-0) on Sunday, April 18 at Roberto Clemente Field. Seniors Katelyn Bourgeois (North Smithfield, R.I.), Leah Derderian (Boylston, Mass.) and Sammi Letizio (Windham, N.H.) celebrated their collegiate careers with family and teammates before the start of the contest. The Sharks now stand at 20-9 overall (15-7 GNAC) with one GNAC doubleheader remaining heading into the postseason tournament. The Saints fall to 9-20 overall (5-17 GNAC) with the loss.

Simmons Softball served up a double win on Senior Day over Great Northeast Athletic Conference rival Emmanuel College (5-0, 6-0) on Sunday, April 18 at Roberto Clemente Field. Seniors Katelyn Bourgeois (North Smithfield, R.I.), Leah Derderian (Boylston, Mass.) and Sammi Letizio (Windham, N.H.) celebrated their collegiate careers with family and teammates before the start of the contest. The Sharks now stand at 20-9 overall (15-7 GNAC) with one GNAC doubleheader remaining heading into the postseason tournament. The Saints fall to 9-20 overall (5-17 GNAC) with the loss.

Game 1 (Simmons 5 - Emmanuel 0)

In Game One, Simmons bounced back from a tough week, shutting down Emmanuel's offense for two games. The Sharks broke open the game in the bottom of the second, scoring three runs off of two hits and three walks. Leading the offensive charge was Courteney Collier (Bolton, Mass.) with a solo shot in the bottom of the first, which proved to be the winning run. Annie Thompson (Pacific Palisades, Calif.) had two RBIs on a bases loaded single in the first and Derderian added an RBI single in the bottom of the 4th to increase the score to 5.

Collier gained the W going the distance, striking out 5 - at least one batter per inning - and scattered four hits and three walks throughout the 7 frames. Collier also received great defensive plays from the Sharks defense.

Game 2 (Simmons 6 - Emmanuel 0)

In a fitting twist, Bourgeois recorded her first collegiate win in her first collegiate start on the mound on Senior Day in Game Two. Bourgeois struck out 6, walked two and scattered 5 hits.

The Simmons offense erupted in the bottom of the fourth, scoring all six of their runs. With two runners on and one out, Amanda Gould (Fremont, N.H.) hit a hard line drive to right center for a triple, easily scoring both runners. Ari King followed with an RBI single, scoring Gould. Steph Murray (Groveland, Mass.) then delivered an RBI double down the left field line. Emily Nalband (Litchfield, Conn.) then connected for a two run home run over the centerfield fence to push the score to 6.

Simmons will end the regular season with a conference twin bill at Emerson (re-scheduled from April 16) at 3:30pm, while Emmanuel will close out their regular season with a Pine Manor match-up the same day.