AUBURNDALE, Fla. – Simmons softball (4-6) lost to Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) opponent, Johnson & Wales (RI), 5-0, in non-conference play on Friday morning. Edgewood College's late inning comeback powered a tough 10-8 win, over the Sharks on Friday afternoon.
GAME 1: JOHNSON & WALES 5, SIMMONS 0
JWU opened the top of the first inning with two hits as Simmons responded with a single to the left side by junior Jordyn Rubin. From then on, the two teams went back and forth with only a hit or two until the sixth inning.
In the top of the sixth inning, the Wildcats broke up the stalemate pushing across a pair of runs. a JWU's Hailey Erickson singled into center field, allowing Amorelli and Jill Pulek. The Wildcats added to their lead an inning later, scoring another three runs to give increase the score to 5-0.
With their backs against the wall heading to the home half of the seventh, senior Maddie Castigliego reached on an infield field single. Two batters later after Castigliego was retired on a fielder's choice, first-year Teagan Buckley rocketed a pitch back where it came from to keep the threat alive. But it was not enough as Katie Schied got Emma Soule to ground out and fanned first-year Abby Viggiano of strikes to earn her fourth win of the season.
GAME 2: EDGEWOOD 10, SIMMONS 8
Simmons opened game strong offensively; and it all began with the first batter of the game. Sophomore Raya Anderson blasted a single to right field, then advanced 60 feet following a walk to first-year Leah Connor. After junior Jordyn Rubin reached on a fielder's choice, senior Shannon McMahon walked to loaded the bases with one out for the Sharks.
Senior Maddie Castigliego stepped up to the plate and hit a rocket of a single up the middle of the diamond, bringing home Connor and Rubin to take a 2-0 lead. The runs didn't stop there.
Senior Emma Thacher pulled a single into left field to plate McMahon, then first-year Teagan Buckley launched a double into right to bring home Castigliego to increase the lead to 4-0. Fellow first-year Emma Soule grounded out to first, but in the back door came Thacher to put the Sharks up 5-0.
The Sharks continued to explode offensively adding another three runs in the top of the second to make it an 8-0 run game. It appeared as if it was going to be enough as first-year starter Emily Deleault, who allowed just one hit and one walk before turning the ball over to classmate Piper Kinney in the bottom of the third. Kinney also tossed two shutout innings allowing just one hit, while striking out two.
Edgewood broke up the shutout getting to Simmons' left-hander Chelsie Trask with a one-out, three-run homerun to left field in the bottom of fifth. However, the Sharks still had a five-run cushion, before the Eagles batted around in the home half of the sixth to put up a crooked number seven and take the 10-8 lead.
SIMMONS HIGHLIGHTS:
- First-year Teagan Buckley went 4-for-7 with a double and two RBI on the day.
- Senior Maddie Castigliego led the Sharks with three RBI on the day, going 3-for-7 with two runs scored.
- First-year pitcher Piper Kinney tossed two innings of scoreless relief against Edgewood in game two, allowing just one hit and striking out two.
- Four players registered two hits against Edgewood – Raya Anderson, Leah Connor, Maddie Castigliego and Teagan Buckley
Up Next:
Simmons softball returns to Daly Field on Sunday, March 19, for their first home games of the season against Wellesley College. First pitch at 12 pm and at 2:00 pm.