BOSTON, Mass. -- Simmons Softball swept the Albertus Magnus Falcons 8-0 in five innings in game one and 8-1 in game two in Great Northeast Athletic Conference action Saturday afternoon. The Sharks improve to 10-4 overall and 3-1 in the conference, while the Falcons fall to 7-11 overall and 2-6 in the GNAC.
Game One: Simmons 8, Albertus Magnus 0 (5 Innings)
The Sharks struck early in game one, as Hannah Cunningham (Cotuit, Mass.) singled up the middle in the bottom of the first. Following the sophomore to the plate was senior Ari King (Westford, Mass.), who singled to right field and advanced H. Cunningham to second. Emily Cunningham (Cotuit, Mass.) advanced both runners and sophomore pitcher Lauren Backhaus (Windsor, Conn.) singled to score H. Cunningham and pick up her sixth RBI of the season.
The Falcons put a runner in scoring position when Alyssa Puccilli doubled to center field but the Sharks defense were able to end the inning without a run.
After a 1,2,3 top of the third, Simmons scored two runs in the bottom half as E. Cunningham started things off with a single up the middle. Alaina DeNoncour (Johnston, R.I.) added a single down the left field line and Melissa Manning walked Heather White (Westfield, Mass.) to load the bases for the Sharks. Christina Mulcahy (Cambridge, Mass.) filed out to left field but E. Cunningham tagged up and added to the Sharks lead. Pagel stepped up to the plate and crushed a single to score DeNoncour for a 3-0 lead.
The Falcons led off the fourth with a single by Isabel Lopez, but Backhaus struck out one and the Sharks defense took charge to end the inning with one left on base.
In the bottom of the fourth, Simmons scored four runs as DeNoncour singled to right field to score King, Mulcahy singled to score White and Backhaus, and Pagel singled for the second straight at bat to score Mulcahy. In the bottom of the fifth, DeNoncour recorded her second RBI of the game as she singled to centerfield to score H. Cunningham and reach the eight-run mercy rule.
Lauren Backhaus picked up her sixth win of the year, giving up just three hits and striking out five.
Game Two: Simmons 8, Albertus Magnus 1
Simmons took the lead in the bottom of the first as DeNoncour singled to centerfield to score H. Cunningham from third. The Falcons had a chance to tie the game in the top of the second as Aimee Mirto singled to right center but H. Cunningham made a horizontal diving catch at shortstop to deny the hit. Simmons pitcher Amanda Cordeiro (Fall River, Mass.) struck out Krista LaBissoniere to end the inning.
In the bottom of the second, H. Cunningham singled to left field and King singled down the left line to score Pagel from second. After Jackie Medina walked E. Cunningham, the bases were loaded for DeNoncour, who battled at the plate and finally walked to score H. Cunningham. Mulcahy singled to centerfield and picked up two RBI's to end the Sharks 4-run inning.
The Falcons offense started in the top of the third as Jamie Vesciglio singled and Brittney Urciuoli reached on a Sharks error. After Veronica Hribko walked, Lopez singled to right field to score Vesciglio and cut the Sharks lead to four. Emily Cunningham smoked a double in the bottom of the third to score H. Cunningham and Jen Field (Windham, Maine) to give the Sharks a 7-1 lead.
After a scoreless fourth inning, the Sharks added to their lead in the bottom of the fifth when Field reached on an error and rounded the bases as H. Cunningham singled to right center and advanced to third on a wild pitch. DeNoncour grounded out to the short stop but picked up the RBI as Field scored the Sharks eighth run.
In the top of the seventh the Falcons faced their final at bat. Hribko singled up the middle to lead off but the Sharks came up big with a double play. Lopez singled up the middle and Danielle Figueroa followed suit but the Falcons were unable to convert as the Sharks went on to win, 8-1.
Amanda Cordeiro picked up her fourth win of the year, allowing just one run with six strikeouts.
The Sharks return to action on Monday when they host GNAC rival Lasell College at Lasell for a doubleheader beginning at 3:00 p.m.