BOSTON, Mass. – Simmons Softball swept the visiting Emmanuel College Saints, 11-3 in five innings and 3-0 in game two in Great Northeast Athletic Conference action Wednesday evening at Clemente field in Boston. The Sharks move to 20-8 on the season and 13-5 in conference, while the Saint fall to 14-19 overall and 6-12 in the GNAC.
Game One: Simmons 11, Emmanuel 3 (5 innings)
The Sharks broke the game open in the bottom of the first as Hannah Cunningham (Cotuit, Mass.) led off with a single up the middle. Mikaela Caracciolo (North Attleboro, Mass.) doubled to left center for the RBI and then advanced to third on a Saints pass ball. Emily Cunningham (Cotuit, Mass.) walked for the Sharks second base runner before sophomore Heather White (Westfield, Mass.) cleared the bases with a home run to right center for the 4-0 lead.
In the bottom of the third, Simmons added six runs off of four hits as Alaina DeNoncour (Johnston, R.I.) doubled down the left field line to score White and E. Cunningham and pitcher Lauren Backhaus (Windsor, Conn.) singled to right field to score Christina Mulcahy (Cambridge, Mass.) from third. DeNoncour scored on a pass ball and Caracciolo added her second hit of the night and two RBIs as Backhaus and H. Cunningham came home. Backhaus doubled in the bottom of the fourth to score Amy Maher (Milton, Mass.) for the Sharks final run.
The Saints found their bats in the top of the fifth, as Julia Levins tripled up the middle and scored on an error by the Sharks. Catherine Davis rounded the bases with a steal and wild pitch and then scored as Kerianne Vulpis singled to left field. Jennifer Garrity singled to right field to score Vulpis to cut the Sharks lead to eight with one out, but Simmons catcher Victoria Luongo (Medford, Mass.) through Garrity out at second and E. Cunningham caught the final out to end the Saints comeback.
Backhaus picked up her 10th win of the year, pitching all five innings, giving up four hits and three walks, while striking out six. Samantha Adams takes the loss for the Saints.
Game Two: Simmons 3, Emmanuel 0
After a scoreless first two innings, the Saints loaded the bases in the top of the third as Marianne Halas singled up the middle and Levins followed suit with a single through the left side. Catherine Davis reached on a fielder's choice as the Sharks threw out the lead runner but Vulpis loaded the bases on a Sharks error. Amanda Cordeiro (Fall River, Mass.) struck out Garrity for the second out and H. Cunningham caught the pop up to short to get out of the inning unscathed.
In the bottom half of the third, H. Cunningham reached on a Saints error and then advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt from Caracciolo. E. Cunningham singled to centerfield and then advanced to second on an error but the damage was done, as H. Cunningham scored for the 1-0 lead.
After no hits in the fourth inning, Simmons added two runs in the fifth as first year Janyne Sierra (Everett, Mass.) pinch hit and drilled a double to right field. H. Cunningham and E. Cunningham walked to load the bases and White came up big again with single through the left side and two RBIs and the 3-0 lead.
Cordeiro picked up her fourth win of the year, recording five hits one walk and four strikeouts, while Jill Kilcoyne struck out nine in the loss.
Simmons returns to action on Friday, Apr. 18 for a doubleheader against Norwich University at Brandeis beginning at 3:00 PM. The Saints travel to Suffolk on the same date for a 3:30 PM start.