BOSTON, MA – Saint Joseph's College (11-5, 6-0 GNAC)
rallied from behind in both games to defeat host Emmanuel College
(5-6, 1-3 GNAC), 7-2 and 6-4, in a Great Northeast Athletic
Conference softball doubleheader played on Clemente Field on
Saturday afternoon. Freshman outfielder Danyelle
Shufelt (Sutton, VT) went 4-7 with three runs
scored in the twinbill.
The Saints held early leads in both contests, before the
visiting Monks charged back to capture both ends of the
doubleheader. St. Joe's has won seven straight, including six
consecutive conference contests.
In the opening game, Emmanuel jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the
bottom of the second inning, as the Monks committed 3 errors in the
frame. Saint Joseph's then quickly fought back,
recording four hits in the top of the third. Anna
Willis (Gorham, Me.) and Danyelle Shufelt
(Sutton, Vt.) led off with back-to-back singles.
Liddy van der Linden (Worcester, Mass.) posted the
third hit of the inning, before Maria Labbe
(Lewiston, Me.) ripped a double and the Monks held a 4-1 advantage.
The Saints were held scoreless in the bottom of the third and
the Monks were able to tack on two more runs in the fourth.
Consecutive singles from Willis and
Shufelt kicked things off again for St.
Joe's. Emily Leverone (Hampton, N.H.)
then hit a double, which drove in Willis and
van der Linden smacked a double that drove in
Shufelt and the Monks led 6-1.
A scoreless fourth inning led to one run in the fifth for the
Saints. A single by Chelsey Guselli (Methuen, Mass.) drove in
Sarah Palmer-Thompson (Dennis, Mass.), who had reached on an
error. Palmer-Thompson's run capped the scoring for the
Saints, who trailed 6-2 heading into the sixth.
Katelyn Call (Portland, Me) reached on a
fielder's choice in the top of the sixth and was then driven
in by Leverone, who recorded 3 RBI in the opener
for the Monks. The Saints went down 1-2-3 in the bottom of
the sixth and then again in the seventh and the Monks held on for
the 7-2 win.
Sophomore pitcher Madylan Kluna (Standish, Me)
went the distance for the Monks. Kluna gave up just four hits and
struck out nine batters. Sophomore Kathryn Copp (Fremont,
N.H.) picked up the loss for the Saints, throwing five innings,
with relief from classmate Jesse Hutchins (Sebago, Me.).
The Saints took an early 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first to
open the nightcap. Senior center-fielder Samantha Luther
(Carlisle, Mass.) doubled to lead things off Emmanuel.
Palmer-Thompson walked and Guselli singled to load the bases.
Senior short-stop Danielle Andruskiwec (Orange, Conn.) hit a
sacrifice fly to left field to score Luther and sophomore catcher
Elyse Turgeon (Dracut, Mass.) did the same, scoring
Palmer-Thompson. Sophomore right-fielder Christina Proulx
(Boxborough, Mass.) singled to drive in Guselli and Emmanuel took a
3-run lead.
The Monks posted a 3-hit, 2-run second inning and trailed 3-2
after three innings played. The Saints tacked on their fourth
run in the bottom of the fourth, when Erin McSheffrey (Woburn,
Mass.) singled and stole second. Hutchins recorded a base-hit to
move McSheffrey to third and the senior left-fielder scored on a
passed ball.
McSheffrey's run capped the scoring for the Saints, who
led 4-2 heading into the fifth. Shufelt and
Leverone each singled and would eventually score,
before junior first-baseman Alyssa Dunn (Standish,
Me.) ripped a double and then scored the go-ahead run for the
Monks.
Guselli singled again in the fifth, but the Saints were held
scoreless for the remainder of the day.
Labbe singled for the Monks in the sixth and added
an insurance run, as the visitors came away with the 6-4 victory.
Christy Wezowicz (Granville, Mass.) pitched
four and a third innings for the Monks, giving up 7 hits.
Kiera Walsh (Benton, Me.) closed out the game
without giving up a hit. Freshman hurler Kelly Lloid
(Issaquah, Wash.) threw the first five innings for the Saints and
was relieved by Copp in the sixth.
The Monks will play at Suffolk University on Sunday in a
conference doubleheader scheduled to begin at 12:00 PM. The Saints
will play next on Tuesday in a single non-conference game with
Lesley University. Emmanuel will host the Lynx under the
lights at 7:00 PM on Roberto Clemente Field.
COURTESY OF EMMANUEL COLLEGE SPORTS INFORMATION
