NEWTON, Mass. – Simmons softball (16-22) has the chance to defend their 2023 title after holding off a late inning comeback by Pod B host Lasell University with a 5-4 win on Sunday afternoon.
The Sharks picked up where they left off from yesterday, jumping out to an early 1-0 lead pushing across a run in the top of the first. After junior centerfielder Raya Anderson led off the game with a walk then moved up 60 feet on a sacrifice bunt, sophomore left fielder Teagan Buckley ripped a single back where it came from to drive home Anderson.
It appeared as though it would be more than enough for Kinney, who retired the first seven batters she faced – five by way of the strikeout. Simmons went back to work at the plate in the top of the fourth to give their starter some breathing room.
Senior right-fielder Jordyn Rubin roped a double to the centerfield fence before advancing to their on an opposite base hit to right field. Following a walk to sophomore Emma Soule, the Sharks were threatening with the bases loaded and no outs. Fellow sophomore Trinity Payne came through lining a single into centerfield that brought home a pair of runs – Rubin and Berdeen.
Three batters later after single by sophomore Emily Deleault loaded the bases again, Anderson poke a single to third base to score Deleault with the fourth Sharks' run. Moments later, Kinney helped her own cause with a bases loaded walk to plate Payne and make it a five-run game.
However, the Lasers answered in the bottom of the frame. Sending nine batters to plate, Lasell scored three runs to cut the deficit to, 5-3. They later grabbed another an inning late to close the gap to one but it was as close as they would get.
Kinney retired the side in order in the sixth which included her ninth strikeout of the game to eclipse the program's single-season record. The central Massachusetts naïve finished the day with 11 strikeouts as she became the first pitcher in program history to record 200 strikeouts in a season.
SIMMONS HIGHLIGHTS
- Sophomore right-hander Piper Kinney earned her conference-leading 13th win of the season, finishing the day with 11 strikeouts and becoming the first pitcher in program history to record 200 strikeouts in a season.
- Sophomore Trinity Payne went 1-for-3 at the plate with a two-RBI single in the top of the fourth.
- Junior Raya Anderson went 1-for-3 with a RBI single in the top of the fourth
- The Sharks return to the GNAC Championship Series for second straight year and fourth time in program history.
UP NEXT
Simmons seeks their second and second straight GNAC Championship next weekend, Friday May 10-11 against the north's top seed Saint Joseph's College of Maine. First pitch on Friday is slated for 4 p.m.
