WINTER HAVEN, Fla. – Simmons softball (1-1) began the season with a convincing, 15-4, win over regional foe Gordon College on Sunday morning. The Sharks dropped their second game of the day to Concordia-Chicago despite making a valiant comeback attempt in the bottom of the fourth inning.
GAME 1: SIMMONS 15, GORDON 4
Wasting little time, Simmons took advantage of a pair of Fighting Scots miscues to put up a crooked number three in the first inning. First-year Teagan Buckley reached on a throwing error before going from first to third on a bunt single off the bat of first-year Abby Viggiano.
With runners at the corners, junior Jordyn Rubin ripped a double into centerfield to plate the two Shark first-years and give Simmons a 2-0 lead. Rubin came into score moments later on a throwing error by the shortstop to make it a three-run lead.
The Sharks offense stayed red-hot. Sending 10 batters to the plate in the top of the second, they pushed across eight runs to knock the Gordon starter out of the game. First-year Emma Soule opened the inning with a base hit back up the middle before moving up to second on a bunt single by sophomore Raya Anderson. Moments later, the pair scampered up a bag on a passed ball to put runners in scoring position and no outs.
After Soule came into score on a ground out by Buckley and Viggiano walked, the Fighting Scots decided to shake up their defensive alignment. However, it did not appear to faze the Sharks. Viggiano swiped second before Rubin walked to load the bases. Back-to-back bases loaded walks to McMahon and senior Maddie Castigliego gave the Sharks a 6-0 run and brought Graham back into the game to pitch.
Senior Emma Thacher lined a single into centerfield to bring home a pair of runs, then advanced to second on the throw. The Sharks continued to string the hits together when first-year Leah Connor ripped a two-run double into right to plate another two runs before coming into score the 11th run on a sacrifice fly.
Gordon finally jumped on the scoreboard in the bottom of the third, scoring four unearned runs to cut into the Simmons lead, but was all they were able to muster against Castigliego. Retiring three of the next seven Fighting Scot batters on strikes, Castigliego earned her first win of the season.
GAME 2: CONCORDIA-CHICAGO 10, SIMMONS 5
Simmons found themselves in a four-run hole after the first inning against Concordia-Chicago, but showed signs of resiliency. Senior Shannon McMahon pulled a two-out single into left field to bring home first-year Abby Viggiano to break up the shutout.
The Cougars scored another pair of runs in the top of the second to increase their lead to five, 6-1 and that's the way stayed until the bottom of the fourth, when the Sharks mounted a comeback.
McMahon opened a four-run inning for Simmons with a walk before moving up 60 feet on a single by Jordyn Rubin. Two batters later, first-year Emma Soule ripped a single back where it came from to bring McMahon home and send Rubin to third to cut the deficit to three.
The Sharks took advantage of defensive errors in Cougar fielders to make it a one-run, 6-5, game, but it was as close as they would get. Concordia widened the spread, pushing across another four runs in the top of the sixth to take a pushed across another four runs in the top of the sixth to take a 10-5 lead and they never looked back.
SIMMONS HIGHLIGHTS
- Junior Jordyn Rubin went 4-for-5 on the day with a double, three RBI and three runs scored.
- Senior Shannon McMahon was 3-for-6 against Gordon and Concordia-Chicago with three RBI and three runs scored.
- First-years Abby Viggiano, Leah Connor, and Emma Soule all picked up their first collegiate career hits against the Fighting Scots. Viggiano went 2-for-3 with thre runs scored from the top of the lineup.
- Senior Maddie Castigliego earned her first win of the season, tossing a complete game five innings allowing four unearned runs on four hits, while striking out four.
UP NEXT
Simmons returns to the diamond tomorrow, Monday March 6 for two games against St. Vincent (11:30 a.m.) and Allegheny College (2 p.m.).