PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Simmons softball (25-14) are your new 2023 Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Champions after defeating third seed Lasell University (28-16-1) on Sunday afternoon.

After claiming the top seed in GNAC North Division the Sharks methodically marched through the winner's bracket to meet the Lasers in the title game. It was tight ball-game through the first five innings before the Sharks broke the game wide open with a four-run fourth inning.

Senior right-hander Maddie Castigliego earned Tournament MVP honors posting a 3-0 record with a 1.88 ERA and 10 strikeouts. Joining the Rhode Island native on the All-Tournament was fellow senior Shannon McMahon, junior Jordyn Rubin and first-year Anna Gagliastro.

After the Lasers tied the game at three, Castigliego helped her own caused and put the Sharks on her back with an opposite field homerun to re-gain the lead for the Sharks. Simmons was not done. With runners on first and second, first-year Leah Connor launched her first collegiate career homerun to add three more insurance runs and take a commanding 7-3 lead into the final inning.

Despite a walk and a base-hit to bring the game-tying run into the on-deck circle for the Lasers, Castigliego got some much-needed aid from her defense. First-year A.J. Swett made a shoe-lace grab for the second out before senior Emma Thacher squeeze the final out on a foul pop up in front of the first base dugout to give the Sharks their first championship in program history. 

SIMMONS HIGHLIGHTS

• Senior right-hander Maddie Castigliego was named the GNAC Tournament MVP posting a 3-0 record with 1.88 ERA and 10 strikeouts in the circle, and helped her own caused at the dish batting .333 with a homerun and three RBI.
• First-year Anna Gagliastro led the Sharks offense with a .556 (5-9) batting average and two RBI.
• Senior Shannon McMahon was also named to the All-Tournament Team, batting .444 (4-9) with a double, homerun and two RBI.
• Junior Jordyn Rubin rounded out the Sharks on the All-Tournament Team with a .500 batting average, two doubles and four RBI.

GAME NOTES

• The GNAC Championship was their first title in program history and it was also the first GNAC Championship for Simmons since swimming & diving won in 2019-20. 

UP NEXT
Simmons earned the GNAC's Automatic Qualifier into the NCAA Tournament beginning with the regionals on Thursday, May 18. The Sharks will find out where they will traveling with the Selection Show on Monday, May 15 at 1 p.m.