BRIGHTON, Mass. – Simmons softball (17-10-1, 8-2 GNAC) swept Norwich University (8-16, 1-9 GNAC) in Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) North Division play Wednesday afternoon. In a convincing 10-1 victory in game, head coach Brook Capello earned her 100^th victory as head coach of the Sharks.

GAME 1: Simmons 10, Norwich 1

The Shark bats wasted very little time. Senior Alex Morang opened the game with a single through the left side, then scored from first on an inside-the-park homerun by fellow senior Allie Mulhern. Simmons tacked on another run the following inning when junior Sam Barr led off the top of the second with an opposite field triple then scored on a wild pitch.

After pushing across another two runs in the third to take a five-run lead, the Sharks sent all nine batters to the plate to put up a crooked number four in the top of the fourth. With graduate senior Emily Barbella on first, Mulhern lined a shot off the right field fence for another inside-the-park homerun to extend the lead to seven. Following walks by sophomore Jordyn Rubin and senior Maddie Castigliego to load the bases, junior Kylie Collins brought home two runs lining a two-RBI single back where it came from to take a 9-0 lead.

Norwich broke up the shutout scoring once in the bottom of the fourth, but it was plenty of run support for Castigliego. The Rhode Island native tossed a complete game five innings allowing just one run on five hits, while striking out six Cadets. 

GAME 2: Simmons 14, Norwich 3

Simmons jumped on the scoreboard quickly, scoring a run in the top of the second and top of the third to take a 2-0 lead. But the lead evaporated as Norwich got to Castigliego for three runs in the home half of the third and take their first lead of the day, 3-2.

It stood that way until the fifth when the Sharks re-gained the lead, pushing across four runs. Barr began the top of the inning with a walk moved up 60 feet a single through the left side by Morang. Mulhern loaded the bases laying down a perfect bunt to bring senior Christie Bott to the plate. The Long Island native cleared the bases with a grand slam that bounced off the top of the wall in left centerfield to take a 6-3 lead.

The damage was not done. The Sharks offense batted around in the top of the sixth, putting up another four runs and knocking Norwich game two starter Annika Beebe from the game. Just before the game was over, the Sharks pushed across another four runs.

Castigliego struck out an additional five batters in game two as she picked up her 17^th win on the season.

SIMMONS HIGHLIGHTS

• Since taking over program in 2016, Head Coach Brook Capello earned her 100^th victory at Simmons following game one's 10-1 victory.
• Senior Alex Morang surpassed her career single-game best four hits in game two. Morang went four-for-five with a double and two RBI from the lead-off spot.
• Senior Christie Bott launched a grand slam in the top of the fifth inning of game two.  
• Every member of the Simmons line-up reached base safely via a walk or a hit in both games.
• Senior right-hander Maddie Castigliego improved to 16-10-1 on the season, registering 12 strikeouts in 12 innings of work. 

UP NEXT
Simmons returns to the diamond on Saturday, April 23 when they travel to Newton, Massachusetts for a double-header against Lasell University. First pitch at noon.