BOSTON – Simmons softball (26-12-1) knocked out the South Division third-seed University of St. Joseph (Conn.) from the 2022 Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) post-season following a 3-0 win on Saturday afternoon.

It was tight pitchers dual through the first four innings. Both starting pitchers were able to work their way out of jams unscathed in the second inning. In the top of the inning, the Sharks loaded the bases with two-outs, but Blue Jay starter Natalie Amato retired senior Alex Morang on strikes.

Following the inning break, the Blue Jays were threatening to score with runners on first and third and two outs. But senior right-hander Maddie Castigiliego set down Kelsie LaHouse to squash the threat.

Simmons broke the scoreless tie in the top of the fifth. With a runner on first and two outs, senior shortstop Allie Mulhern extended her hitting streak to 25 games with an infield single, sending Morang to second. A batter later fellow senior Christie Bott loaded the bases with an infield hit of her own before sophomore Jordyn Rubin plated Morang with the game's first run reaching on a fielder's choice.

After retiring six straight batters since getting out of a second inning jam, Castigliego gave up a leadoff hit in the bottom of the fifth. But Bott snagged a low, sinking line drive out of the air off the bat of Kacy O'Conner and fired onto first for the double play. Castigliego went on to strike out Abigail Dillon looking for the final out of the frame.

The Sharks added a pair of insurance runs two innings later in the top of seventh. Senior backstop Shannon McMahon ripped a two-run, triple down the right field line to bring home both Bott and pinch-runner senior Emily Barbella to give Simmons the 3-0 lead.

Castigliego went the distance to earn her conference leading 25^th win of the season, striking out eight Blue Jays, while scattering three hits and walking one.

SIMMONS HIGHLIGHTS

• Senior Maddie Castigliego tossed her 33^rd complete game of the season, allowing just three hits and striking out eight Blue Jays to earn her conference-leading 25^th victory of the season – and currently ranked second amongst the national leaders.
• Senior shortstop Allie Mulhern extended her hitting streak to 25 games with an infield single in the fifth inning.
• Senior catcher Shannon McMahon went 1-for-4 with a two-RBI triple in the top of the seventh.
• Senior leftfielder Christie Bott snagged a sinking line drive into left field then turned two, firing onto first for the double play in the top of the fifth.

UP NEXT
Simmons will look to advance to Sunday when they play Saint Joseph's College of Maine tonight at 5 p.m.