BRIGHTON, Mass. – Simmons softball (12-21, 8-6 GNAC) fell to rival Emmanuel College (18-12, 11-1 GNAC) in Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) North Division action on Wednesday evening.
GAME 1: Emmanuel 3, Simmons 1 – 8 innings
In fitting fashion between the two rivals the first game of the twin-billing went into extra frames. The Sharks struck first in the bottom of the second as sophomore right-hander Piper Kinney helped her own cause, driving in classmate Teagan Buckley with an opposite field singe.
However, the Saints were able to even the score a half inning later. Taking advantage of a lead-off walk followed by a pair of wild pitches Emmanuel had a runner at third and only one out. Kinney got Amanda Penney to ground out to third, but in the back door came Madeline Parrish to tie the game at 1-1.
From there the game became a pitcher's duel between two of the top pitchers in the conference. Kinney remained dominate and took a no-hit bid into the top of the six before giving up a two-out double to straight away centerfield by Taylor Chelak. But retired Alexis Martineau on strikes to end the inning.
The ballgame remained locked at 1-1 until extra frames when the Saints were able to push across a pair of runs. In the home half of the eighth, the Sharks had junior Raya Anderson on second then advanced 60 feet swiping third, but Simmons was unable to bring her in.
Tossing a two-hitter, Kinney tied her career single-game best for the third time this season, striking out 14 Saints in her 22nd complete game of the season.
GAME 2: Emmanuel 5, Simmons 3
The Sharks struck first in game two, taking advantage of a Saints throwing error in the infield that allowed sophomore Teagan Buckley to scamper home with the game's first run. But it was a short-lived lead, the Saints pushed across a pair of runs a half inning later to take a 2-1 lead.
Emmanuel senior Olivia Conti opened the top of the third beating out an infield single, then advanced to second on a heads-up play. However, Simmons sophomore right-hander Ally Hyde settled down setting down the next three Saints batters to minimize the damage.
The Saints added two their lead an inning later. Sending nine batters to the plate, they pushed a cross another three runs to extend the lead to four, 5-1. However, the Sharks answered scoring a pair of runs in the home half to cut the deficit to two, 5-3.
Junior Leah Berdeen led of the inning roping a double down the left field line then moved up 60 feet on a wild pitch. Two batters later following walk to Hyde, sophomore Emily Deleault drove in Berdeen with the Sharks second run of the game. Simmons was not done. Following two-out single by Anderson, Hyde came in to score the third Sharks run a Saints outfield throwing error. But it was as close as they would get as the Saints hung on to the two-run, 5-3, win.
SIMMONS HIGHLIGHTS
- Sophomore right-hander Piper Kinney continued her dominance in the circle, fanning 14 Saints for the third time this season in game one. She finished the day with a total of 17 strikeouts – striking out three in game two in three innings of relief.
- Kinney took a no-hit bid into the sixth inning of game one.
- Junior Leah Berdeen tied her career single-game high going three-for-three at the plate with two doubles and a run scored in game two.
- Sophomore Teagan Buckley went three-for-three with a run scored in game one.
UP NEXT
Simmons will close out the regular season on Saturday, April 27 when they travel to Johnson & Wales. First pitch at noon.