NEW HAVEN, Conn. -- The Simmons College softball team saw six players register multiple hits on the day, but fell in both games of a Great Northeast Athletic Conference doubleheader to host Albertus Magnus College, dropping the opener, 7-4, before falling in the nightcap, 9-1, this afternoon at the Shea Complex in New Haven, Conn. The Sharks fall to 3-9 overall and 1-3 in league play, while the Falcons improve to 9-4 and 4-0.
Sophomore second base Lauren Del Vacchio (Murrieta, Calif.) reached base five times on the day for Simmons with three hits and was hit by a pitch on two occasions in addition to scoring a run. Junior catcher Taylor LeBrun (Milford, Mass.) was 3-6 on the day, while first year left fielder Ivy Vann (Bend, Ore.) was 2-5, including her league-leading fourth triple of the season to go with a run batted in and two runs scored. Sophomore third base Dom Ortiz (Lawrence, Mass.) was 2-6 with a double and an RBI and sophomore center fielder Molly Hennessey (Charlton, Mass.) knocked in a pair of runs to increase her league-high total to 15 RBI with two hits and also scored a run.
Senior third base Gillian Fortier (Naugatuck, Conn.) led Albertus Magnus, going 6-8 with two home runs, a double, four RBI and four runs scored, while senior catcher Daysia Wehder (Queens, N.Y.) was 3-7 with two doubles and two RBI. Junior designated player Marissa Gugliemi (Branford, Conn.) cracked a pair of doubles in three at-bats and knocked in two runs, while sophomore Aliza Esposito (East Haven, Conn.) drove in three runs with a pair of hits, including a triple.
The Falcons trailed for the first three and a half innings of game one, before striking for four runs in the bottom of the fourth to take a 5-2 lead. Esposito keyed the frame for the home team with a two-run triple from the nine spot in the order and came around to score herself ahead of Fortier's first homer of the day. The Sharks got two runs back in the top of the fifth when first year shortstop Marissa Santoro (Franklin, Mass.), Del Vacchio and Vann all strung together three straight singles to open the inning, including a run-scoring base knock from Vann. Hennessey plated Del Vacchio with a ground out to pull Simmons to within 5-4. Albertus Magnus tacked on two runs in the sixth to on a two-run double off the bat of Wedher to give it some breathing room with a 7-4 lead. The Falcons held the Sharks in check in the seventh, despite Del Vacchio's third hit of the game and a stolen base with two outs in the inning.
The Sharks got on the board first in the opening contest when Vann drew a walk and later scored ahead of a double from Ortiz. Vann figured in Simmons' second run as well, cracking a one-out triple and scored on a Hennessey ground out to give the Sharks a 2-0 lead after their half of the third. Albertus Magnus cut the deficit in half, manufacturing a run in the bottom of the frame. Esposito led off with a single, moved to second on a single from Fortier and advanced to third on a fly out to center, before scoring on a sacrifice bunt by senior first base Melissa Castillo (Taftville, Conn.) to make it 2-1.
Senior pitcher Megan Ferraro (Branford, Conn.) (2-2) picked up the victory for the Falcons, allowing four runs on eight hits and a walk, while striking out two in four innings, while senior right-hander Juliet Nelson (Cumberland, R.I.) suffered the loss for the Sharks after yielding seven runs (three earned) on 11 hits and two walks to go with four strikeouts.
The Albertus Magnus offense wasted no time game two with four runs in the first inning. Fortier doubled to open the frame and scored on a single from senior shortstop Brianna Whitfield (West Islip, N.Y.). Gugliemi also contributed with an RBI double. Simmons rapped out three hits in the third with singles from Hennessey, sophomore Alex Soqui (Acushnet, Mass.) and LeBrun, but only managed one run when Del Vacchio scored on an error. It was the only run of the game for the visitors as the Falcons added a run in the fourth and four more in the fifth to end the game due to the eight-run mercy rule. Fortier crushed a two-out homer in the fourth and knocked in a run with a single in the fifth. Gugliemi also added to the scoring in the fifth with a run-scoring double, before an RBI single from junior left fielder Maxine Sanchez (Corona, N.Y.).
Junior Kristen Cunning (Hoboken, N.J.) improved to 4-1 for Albertus Magnus after scattering seven hits and giving up a run. Junior southpaw Michaela Reeves (Reading, Mass.) took the loss for the Sharks after giving up six runs (three earned) on eight hits and a walk in addition to three strikeouts.