BOSTON, Mass. -- Simmons softball split with the Saint Joseph's College Monks Thursday afternoon in a Great Northeast Athletic Conference battle for playoff position. After dropping the first game 11-2, the Sharks came from behind to hand the Monks their first loss since March 30th, ending their 18-game win streak.

In the first game, Saint Joseph's took an early lead when Danyelle Shufelt doubled to left center and then scored off a single by Emily Leverone. The Monks increased their lead to three in the top of the fourth off a Maddie Kluna triple to score Theresa Hendrix and Lindsay Moore. Leverone hit a solo home run in the top of the fifth and Moore doubled to right center to score Caitlin Schrum for a five run lead.

The Sharks had hits from Alaina DeNoncour (Johnston, R.I.) and Christina Mulcahy (Cambridge, Mass.) in the bottom of the fifth but the Monks defense ended the inning with both runners left on base.

The Monks added four runs in the sixth but the Sharks scored twice in the bottom of the inning to avoid the eight run mercy rule. Katie McCarthy (Falmouth, Maine) reached first after being hit by a pitch and Emily Cunningham (Cotuit, Mass.) tripled to give the Sharks their first run of the game. Gould singled up the middle to score Cunningham and the Sharks stayed alive to the seventh inning but the Monks took the win, 11-2.

Monks sophomore Theresa Hendrix was credited with the win while Sharks pitcher Lauren Backhaus (Windsor, Conn.) took the loss.

The second game began in similar fashion, with the Monks scoring four quick runs in the first inning. Shufelt singled up the middle and Connie Grovo followed suit with a bunt. Leverone singled to left field to move the runners before Heather Tripp singled to center field to score Shufelt and Grovo. Kluna singled to center field to score two more runners before the Sharks picked up their third out to end the Monks scoring.

Simmons scored their first run in the bottom of the third when Hannah Cunningham (Cotuit, Mass.) reached on an error by the first baseman and scored when E. Cunningham reached on a similar error.

After a scoreless fourth, the Sharks cut the Monks lead to one when McCarthy tripled to centerfield to score H. Cunningham. E. Cunningham then reached on an error to score McCarthy, which tied the game at four.

With a scoreless sixth and top of the seventh, the game was looking like extra innings were in the future.

In the bottom of the seventh, H. Cunningham singled to left field to give the Sharks the winning run on base. McCarthy reached on a fielder's choice before the Monks intentionally walked E. Cunningham. With McCarthy on second, Amanda Gould (Kingston, N.H.) hit a line-drive single down the right field line to send McCarthy home for the victory, 5-4. The win ended the Monks 18-game win streak and marks the first time that the Sharks have defeated the Monks since 2008.

Freshman Amanda Cordiero (Fall River, Mass.) picked up her ninth win of the season on the mound while Rae-Marie Copan took the loss.

Simmons (21-12, 17-5 GNAC) returns to the field tomorrow afternoon when they host Pine Manor College for a doubleheader beginning at 3:00 p.m.