STANDISH, Maine – Simmons softball (22-14, 8-2 GNAC) split with Saint Joseph's College of Maine (20-16, 8-2 GNAC) to claim a share of first place in the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) North Division on Saturday afternoon.
GAME 1: SIMMONS 3, SAINT JOSEPH'S COLLEGE OF MAINE 2
The Sharks came into a pivotal conference divisional doubleheader on the road with their confidence high. Once Simmons hitters saw Saint Joseph's starter Meredith Pence, they jumped on the Monks southpaw for three runs in the top of the third.
First-year Leah Connor ripped a one-out single up the, sophomore centerfielder Raya Anderson worked a walk to bring the heart of the lineup to the plate. Junior Jordyn Rubin lined a single back where it came from to bring Connor all the way home from second. Moments later, senior backstop Shannon McMahon pulled a double into the left centerfield gap to plate both Anderson and Rubin and give the Sharks the 3-0 lead.
The Monks managed to chip away at the Sharks lead, grabbing a run back in both the home half of the fourth and fifth innings to make it a 3-2 ballgame. Senior right-hander Maddie Castigliego made quick work of the Monks, retiring the side in order in the bottom of the six, while the Sharks threatened to added an insurance run in the top of the seventh.
Rubin led off the seventh pulling a double through the right side. However, she was unable to come around to score as Pence settled down and retired the next three Shark batters.
Saint Joseph's had one last effort in the bottom of the frame. With runners in scoring position and only one out, Castigliego was aided by some outstanding defense that helped get out of the frame unscathed. Hannah Gosselin hit a slow roller just in front of the plate that Connor flipped to McMahon for the second out, before Sadie popped out to third to end game one.
GAME 2: SAINT JOSEPH'S COLLEGE OF MAINE 5, SIMMONS 4 – 8 INNINGS
Simmons was quick in jumping out a 4-0 lead in game two. In the top of the first inning McMahon came through in the clutch ripping a two-out single back up the middle to bring home Rubin with the game's first run.
Two innings later, in the top of the third, the Sharks sent eight batters to plate and came away with three runs. First-years A.J. Swett and Leah Connor began the inning back-to-back singles, before Anderson lined an opposite field single into right center to plate Swett. After a Rubin grounded out for the first out of the frame, McMahon hit a high fly ball to centerfield for the second out, but in the back door came Connor to increase the Sharks lead to three.
Despite their being two outs, Castigliego kept the inning alive with an opposite field single through the right side to bring home Anderson and make a it a 4-0 ballgame.
It appeared as though it was going to be all first-year right-hander Piper Kinney would need. Retiring the first eight batters she faced before giving up a single to Abby Carpenter in the third, Kinney was cruising through the first four innings allowing just two hits.
However, she ran into trouble in the bottom of the fifth when the Monks made it a one run game. Taking advantage of a Shark error, they pushed across three runs, then an inning later tied up the ballgame on a sacrifice fly.
The Sharks had an opportunity to re-gain the lead in the top of the eighth with a runner on third; but the Monks' Sylvia Foley snagged a rocket of line drive out of the air off the bat of first-year Teagan Buckley for the second out.
Saint Joseph's pulled off the walk-off victory in the bottom of the eighth with double down the left field line by Charlotte Cloutier to bring home Ahna Dostie.
SIMMONS HIGHLIGHTS
- Senior Shannon McMahon went 4-for-6 with a double and four RBI at the plate on the afternoon.
- Fellow senior, right-hander Maddie Castigliego earned her 13th victory of the season, tossing a complete game, allowing just two earned runs on six hits while striking out four Monks in game one.
- First-year Leah Connor went 3-for-6 the plate with two walks and a pair of runs scored against.
- First-year right-hander Piper Kinney tossed 5.2 innings allowing four unearned runs, while striking out four and scattering seven hits.
UP NEXT
Simmons awaits final word from the conference on its seeding for the 2023 post-season tournament.