NEWTON, Mass. -- Simmons Softball swept the Johnson & Wales Wildcats, 4-0 and 4-3 in extra innings in a Great Northeast Athletic Conference double-header Tuesday afternoon. The Sharks move to 21-7 overall and 14-4 in the GNAC, while the Wildcats fall to 19-15 overall and 12-8 in conference action.

Game One:

In the first game, the Sharks took and early two run lead as Emily Cunningham (Cotuit, Mass.) hit a solo home run to centerfield. With two outs, Alaina DeNoncour (Johnston, R.I.) doubled to centerfield and then scored as Lauren Backahus (Windsor, Conn.) reached on an error by the left fielder.

The Wildcats had runners on second and third in the top of the second when Tayla Gardner was hit by a pitch and then advanced to third on a single by Jessica George. But Backhaus struck out the next two batters as the Wildcats left two on base.

Simmons struck again in the bottom of the second Cailin Pagel (Dorchester, Mass.) walked and Hannah Cunningham (Cotuit, Mass.) reached first on a Wildcat's error to move to Pagel to second. Both runners advanced on a wild pitch by Taylor Cwalinski and Emily Cunningham reached first on another Johnson & Wales error as H. Cunningham and Pagel crossed home plate.

A pitching duel ensued for the next five innings as Backhaus allowed just five hits with seven strikeouts while Cwalinski gave up three hits and struck out 11.

Game Two:

The Sharks scored first in game two as H. Cunningham lead off with a single up the middle in the bottom of the first. Mikaela Caracciolo (North Attleboro, Mass.) walked to move H. Cunningham to second and the sophomore continued around the bases to third on a pass ball. DeNoncour singled down the right field line to score Cunningham before Caracciolo scored on a pass ball to give the Sharks a two run lead.

In the top of the second, Rachael Marino singled for the Wildcats and later advanced to second off a single by Carly Cabral. But Amanda Cordeiro (Fall River, Mass.) struck out Cwalinski for the final out with two left on base.

After a scoreless third and fourth innings, Johnson & Wales junior Tayla Gardner hit a two-run homer to tie the game. Robyn Ziegler added a single to centerfield but the Sharks were able to end the top half of the inning.

Despite quality opportunities, neither team was able to break the stalemate in seven innings. The Wildcats placed Ziegler on second base in the top of the eighth and George singled down the left line to give the Wildcats their first lead of the afternoon, 3-2. Marino reached first on a fielder's choice and George advanced to second on a Sharks error. With runners on first and second and no outs, Simmons felt the pressure. But the Sharks defense made all three outs as they entered the bottom of the eighth down one run.

Christina Mulcahy (Cambridge, Mass.) started on second for Simmons and H. Cunningham led off with a anticipated sacrifice bunt. But the sophomore out-ran the throw and gave the Sharks runners on first and third. Caracciolo grounded out to the shortstop but picked up the RBI as Mulcahy tied the game for the Sharks. With one out, E Cunningham hit a fly ball to left field, which was dropped the Wildcats and allowed H. Cunningham to score from second to lift the Sharks to victory.

Amanda Cordeiro picked up the win for the Sharks, while Gardner takes the loss for the Wildcats.

Simmons returns to action on Wednesday at GNAC rival Norwich University for a double-header set to begin at 3:00 p.m. The Wildcats host Roger Williams on April 18.