CLERMONT, Fla. – Sophomore Jordyn Rubin drove in the game-winning run with a two-RBI single in Simmons softball's, 4-2, win over John Carroll in the first game of the day. The Sharks dropped a tough, 8-7 decision to RPI in their second game, despite a valiant inning comeback.

SIMMONS 4, JOHN CARROLL 2
Trailing by a run heading into the bottom of the second, senior catcher Emma Thacher lined an opposite field single through the right-side of the infield to open the frame. Following back-to-back singles by junior Kylie Collins and senior Allie Mulhern to load the bases, senior Christie Bott launched a two-run double to straightaway center to put the sharks on top, 2-1.

Senior right-hander Maddie Castigliego set down the Blue Streaks in order in the top of the fourth and gave the Shark offense a chance to build on their lead. Castigliego helped her own cause reaching on an error, then advance to third on a double to left field off the bat of senior Alex Morang.

Moments later sophomore Jordyn Rubin lined a single back up the middle to plate Castigliego to give the Sharks a 3-1 lead. Three batters later Collins drove in Morang with the fourth run, lifting a high fly ball to centerfield to put the Sharks up 4-1.

It was all Castigliego needed as she went the distance, tossing seven innings allowing just two unearned runs on four hits to pick up her second win of the season

RPI 8, SIMMONS 7

In their second game of the day, the Sharks utilized a six-run top of the fifth inning to erase a 6-1 deficit and jump ahead of Engineers by one, 7-6. First-year Raya Anderson sparked the offense started reaching on a bunt single to bring the lineup back around to the top. She came around to score on an errant throw by the RPI catcher on a bunt base-hit by Mulhern, for the second Simmons run.

The Sharks were far from down. After Bott advance Mulhern and Collins up 60 feet with a sacrifice bunt, senior backstop Shannon McMahon brought them home, ripping an opposite field triple into the right centerfield gap and knocked RPI starter Alexis Cooke out of the game.

But the Shark offense experience similar success against Engineer reliever Brooke Sroczinski. Castigliego pulled a double into the left-centerfield gap to plate McMahon. Following a walk to Morang, Sroczinski unleashed a wild pitch to put runners in scoring position for the Sharks. Sophomore Jordyn Rubin lined a base-hit took advantage of the opportunity lining a base-hit back up the middle to give the Sharks their first lead of the game, 8-7.

However, the Engineers got the run back and tied it in the home half to tie up the game at eight, then re-gained the lead with a run in the bottom of the sixth. 

SIMMONS HIGHLIGHTS

• Senior shortstop Allie Mulhern went 2-for-4 against John Carroll in the first game and made a diving play at shortstop to minimize the damage.
• Mulhern went 3-6 with two runs scored and a pair of walks on the day.
• Senior Shannon McMahon went 2-for-3 with a double, triple and three RBI against RPI.
• First-year Raya Anderson ignited the six-run inning against RPI as she went 1-for-3 with a run scored.

UP NEXT
Simmons returns to the diamond tomorrow, March 10 for two games at Legends Way field against Plymouth State (2:45 p.m.) and Catholic (5 p.m.).