BRIGHTON, Mass. – First-year Piper Kinney tossed a one-hitter in a game-two 8-0 shutout win to lead Simmons softball (12-10) to a sweep over Dean College in Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) action on Wednesday evening.
In the top of the first inning, Dean starting pitcher Jilian Glynn helped her own caused lining a two-out single into centerfield. But it was the last time the Bulldogs were to catch up with the Sharks' game two starter. Kinney retired the next six straight Bulldog batters.
The Shark bats quickly gave their first-year starter a lead of work with. First-year infielder Leah Connor reached on a two-base error by the right fielder then came home with the first run of the game on an RBI single by junior Jordyn Rubin.
It was more than enough for Kinney, who pitched a gem to earn her fourth victory of the season. Over the course of five innings, the central Massachusetts native fanned seven Bulldogs while walking just one.
Simmons jumped on Glynn the second time through the batting order. Connor opened a four-run bottom of the third with a liner just out the reach of Jaylee Martinez's glove and rolled all the way to the outfield fence. Just like that the Colorado native was standing at second with a triple to begin the inning.
She wasn't at third for very long as Rubin brought her home with a single through the left side of the infield. After senior Maddie Castigliego earned a one-out walk she advance two bags on a throwing error by the catcher and in the process Rubin came in score the third Sharks run. Moments later senior Emma Thacher poked a single down the down the right field line to plate Castigliego and give Simmons the 4-0 lead.
The Sharks were not done. First-year Teagan Buckley capped the four-run inning with a single up the middle to score Thacher and increase the lead to five. Simmons added another three runs in the bottom of the fourth to put the game away to take an 8-0 lead and they did not look back.
GAME 1: SIMMONS 9, DEAN 1
The Sharks jumped out to an early lead in game one, pushing across three runs in the bottom of the second. Senior Shannon McMahon worked a lead-off walk then got herself into scoring position, swiping second. After senior Maddie Castigliego walked, the pair of fifth year seniors took off on a double-steal to give the Sharks runners in scoring position and only one out.
Fellow fifth year senior Emma Thacher drove in McMahon with sacrifice fly to left to give the Sharks a 1-0 lead. Moments later first-year Emery Kreidel-Reimer pulled a double just inside the leftfield line to bring home Castigliego for the second Sharks run. The Washington state native came in to score the third and final run of the inning on a fielder's choice by A.J. Swett.
It was more than enough run support for Castigliego to pick up her seventh win of the season. Despite allowing a run in the top of the third, the Shark bats answered and got that run back scoring in the home half before putting up a crooked number four in the bottom of the fourth.
Castigliego kept the Bulldogs off balance tossing four innings while striking out nine and allowing just one run on two hits. First-year right-hander Trinity Payne came in to pitch the final inning and struck out one Dean batter in the process.
SIMMONS HIGHLIGHTS
- First-year right-hander Piper Kinney tossed a one-hitter in game two, while striking out seven Bulldogs and walking just one.
- Kinney current is second amongst conference leaders in ERA with a 1.75 ERA.
- Senior right-hander Maddie Castigliego earned her seventh win of the year tossing four innings, while striking out nine Bulldogs and helping her own cause at the plate going 2-for-2 with an RBI and a run scored.
- Every member of the Shark lineup scored at least one run in game one.
- Junior Jordyn Rubin went 4-for-5 on the evening with a triple, three RBI, three runs scored and a walk.
UP NEXT
Simmons returns to the diamond on Saturday, April 8 when they travel to Nashua, New Hampshire to face GNAC foe Rivier University. First pitch at 1 p.m.