BRIGHTON, Mass. – Simmons softball (11-8-1, 2-0 GNAC) opened Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) action at 2-0 sweeping Elms College (6-8, 1-3 GNAC) with a pair of shutouts on Sunday afternoon.
Senior right-hander Maddie Castigliego registered a two-to-one strikeout-to-walk ratio, tallying 11 strikeouts while walking just five batters in two games to improve to 10-8 on the season.
GAME 1: Simmons 13, Elms 0
Simmons jumped on the board early in the bottom of the second of game. Senior Christie Bott began the frame with a lead-off walk, but took advantage of the defense sleeping, rounding first and heading to second. Castigliego helped her own cause with a double down the left field line to plate Bott. Two batters laters, the Rhode Island scored the second Shark run on an opposite field triple by junior Sam Barr.
The bats heated up an inning later as the Sharks batted around to put up an eight spot and take a 10-run lead. With runners at the corners, sophomore Jordyn Rubin blooped a single into centerfield to drive home senior Allie Mulhern, but senior Shannon McMahon was out trying to advance 60 feet.
Two batters later, Castigliego launched her second homerun of the season to push the Shark lead to six. After junior Kylie Collins worked a two-out walk, junior Sam Barr slugged to her second homerun of the season to increase the lead to 8-0. Senior Alex Morang kept the inning going with a base-hit through the left-side then scored on Mulhern's inside-the-park homerun to cap of the inning.
Simmons scored three more runs in the fourth to take a 13-0 lead, but it was more than enough to earn their 10th win of the season. Castigliego was red-hot in the circle tossing a one-hitter, while retiring eight Blazers on strikes.
GAME 2: Simmons 12, Elms 0
In the bottom of the first of game two, Mulhern hit her second homerun of the day – this time over the left field fence and gave the Sharks the quick, 2-0 lead. The following inning reached on an infield single to bring home Barr and push the lead to three.
The Sharks tacked on more runs in the bottom of the fourth. Batting around, Simmons put up a crooked number nine to take a 12-0 lead. It was plenty for Castigliego who kept the Blazers off the balance through five innings allowing just two hits, while fanning three Blazers.
SIMMONS HIGHLIGHTS
- Senior right-hander Maddie Castigliego registered a two-to-one strikeout-to-walk ratio on the day, tallying 11 strikeouts while walking just five Blazers.
- Castigliego tossed a one-hitter in a 13-0 victory in game one and came one strikeout shy of tying her career single-game high, fanning eight Blazers.
- Additionally, Castigliego helped her own cause at the plate, going 4-for-6 with a double, homerun and five RBI.
- Senior shortstop Allie Mulhern registered a single-game high four RBI in game, going 2-for-3 with a homerun. On the day, she went 3-for-6 with two homeruns, six RBI and four runs scored.
UP NEXT
Simmons returns to the diamond on Wednesday, April 6 when they travel to Franklin, Massachusetts for a double-header against Dean College. First pitch is slated for 3 p.m.