BRIGHTON, Mass. – Simmons softball's (13-10, 4-2 GNAC) six game winning streak came to a halt Wednesday afternoon dropping a pair to rival Emmanuel College (9-9, 6-0 GNAC) in Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) North Division action.

Game 1: Emmanuel 10, Simmons 1

Senior right-hander Maddie Castigliego made quick work of Emmanuel through the first two innings, including back-to-back strikeouts to end the second inning. But the second time through the order for the Saints bats was key, as they put up three runs in both the third and fourth innings to take a 6-0 lead.

Castigliego helped her own cause in the home half of the fourth and broke up the shutout. With one out, she took the first pitch she saw from Emmanuel right-hander Tianna Dawe and sent it sailing over the left field fence for her third homerun of the season. 

However, it was all the offense the Sharks were able to muster against Dawe, who tossed five innings allowing just four hits, while striking out six to earn her second win.

Game 2: Emmanuel 8, Simmons 6

The heat of the Saints bats carried into game two as they took a quick 7-0 lead, scoring in each of the first three innings. But the Sharks quietly chipped their way back into the game.

In the bottom of the third, junior Sam Barr put Simmons on the board pulling a 1-1 pinch down the left field line for her fourth homerun on the season. An inning later, senior Shannon McMahon sent an 0-2 pitch over the centerfield fence to cut the deficit to five, 7-2.

The game stood that way for the next inning and a half when the Sharks mounted a late-inning rally in the home half of the sixth. Senior shortstop Allie Mulhern opened the frame beating out a bunt single then quickly got herself into scoring position with a steal of second. After Mulhern scampered 60 feet on a ground out, sophomore Jordyn Rubin and senior Christie Bott walked to load the bases with only one out.

With the Sharks threatening to score, it appeared as though Emmanuel game two starter Brenna Whittaker would get out of the inning unscathed. Whittaker got her counterpart, Castigliego, to pop out to second for the second out of the inning, but the third out was elusive for Saints pitcher.

Whittaker walk senior catcher Emma Thacher on four pitches to force home Mulhern, before junior Kylie Collins dropped a two-out single down the left field line to bring in both Bott and Rubin to bring the Sharks back within two runs. Barr continued the two-out rally lining a base hit back where it came from to plate Thacher and knock Whittacker from the game. Dawe came in in relief retired senior Alex Morang on strikes to end the threat. 

Emmanuel added an insurance run in the top of the seventh, but the Dawe retired the side in order in the home half to pick up her second save of the season.

SIMMONS HIGHLIGHTS

• Junior Sam Barr went 2-for-5 on the night with her fourth homerun of the season and two RBI.
• Junior Kylie Collins went 3-for-5 at the plate with a pair of RBI in game two.
• Senior Shannon McMahon launched her second homerun of the season – first up north – with a solo shot to straightaway centerfield in game two.

UP NEXT
Simmons returns to the diamond on Friday, April 15 when they travel to Franklin, Mass. to face Dean College. First pitch is at 3 p.m.