FRANKLIN, Mass. – Simmons softball (15-10-1, 6-2 GNAC) returned to their winning ways with a sweep of Dean College (2-16, 1-8 GNAC) on the road, Friday afternoon. Senior right-hander Maddie Castigliego led the way, registering a career single-game best 11 strikeouts en route to a 9-2 victory in game one.
GAME 1: Simmons 9, Dean 2
Before stepping foot on the rubber to begin her day, Castigliego already had a three-run lead to work with. Senior Alex Morang opened the game reaching on a hit by pitch, but was thrown out at third when the Bulldog defense caught her rounding second on a bunt single by senior Allie Mulhern.
After Dean starter Jessica Stewart hit senior Shannon McMahon and walked sophomore Jordyn Rubin to load the bases, senior Christie Bott forced home Mulhern with the first run. Moments later, Castigliego helped her own cause, pulling a one-out single through the left side to bring home both McMahon and Rubin.
It was plenty of run support Castigliego needed, but the Sharks bats provided more. Batting around in the top of the fourth, the Shark bats put up a crooked number six, ignited by senior Emily Barbella's first collegiate career homerun to lead off the frame.
Castigliego kept Dean batters off balance, to earn her 13th win of the season, allowing just two unearned runs on five hits, while striking out a new single-game best 11 Bulldogs.
GAME 2: Simmons 18, Dean 3
Each team scored a run in the first. Rubin knocked in a run with a double to right center, while the Bulldogs scoreed in the bottom of the first
The Sharks put three across in the second to take a 4-1 lead. Barr had an RBI double and Morang brought home two teammates with a single to right center. Simmons added to the lead an inning later, scoring a run on a passed ball and two on a blast by junior Sam Barr over the left field fence.
In the fourth, Bott put the Sharks on top 9-1 with a two-run home run to left center. Morang then knocked in a pair with a double to left and later scored on a Mulhern single to make the score 12-2.
For the second inning in a row, Bott deposited a two-run homer over the left field fence to push the Simmons lead to 14-2. Barr tacked on a couple more runs with a single to center. She later scored on a Mulhern triple to give the Sharks a 17-2 lead. Mulhern scored on a double by first-year Raya Anderson.
SIMMONS HIGHLIGHTS
- Graduate senior Emily Barbella hit her first collegiate homerun to spark a six-run, top of the fourth in game one.
- Senior Maddie Castigliego surpassed her career single-game high, fanning 11 Bulldogs in game one.
- Senior Allie Mulhern registered a career single-game best, going four-for-four from the top of the order in game one.
- Senior Christie Bott drove in a career single-game best four RBI, going two-for-four with a homerun in game two.
UP NEXT
Simmons returns to the diamond on Wednesday, April 20 when they travel to Norwich University. First pitch is slated for 2 p.m.