Magistro Jumps Into the Record Books With Three Home Runs As Softball Dominates the GNAC Quarterfinals

WENTHAM, Mass. – With Alexandra Magistro going off the chain for three home runs to tie a GNAC record and hold second in NCAA records, the Emerson Softball Team unleashed its potent offense to open the GNAC Quarterfinals Friday taking a 17-0 (5) win from Saint Joseph's of Connecticut. Kelsey Tuthill pitched a gem, giving up one hit and striking out seven in what otherwise was a perfect game to move to 16-2 on the year while the Lions improve to 31-7 overall.

The Lions were up to business as usual with Tuthill throwing a perfect first inning before they conjured up some two-out lighting in the bottom of the inning as the saw the first two batters collect outs before the remainder of the squad brought the offensive noise so hard they batted around the order. Kelsey Tuthill helped her own cause with a two out bomb only to see Alexandra Magistro hit her first of the day off a full count on an absolute bomb to center field. The crafty Lions couldn't be silenced after either though as Lauren Jacaruso dropped a sneaky bunt single with bases loaded which Brittany Rochford followed up with a bases loaded walk to make it 5-0 after one.

Two doubles from Kendal Peiguss and Nikki Delaney in the third brought another run which  only brought up the fourth inning which only embodied the team motto on the year as the bats did nothing but bring it. Before the first out was even recorded in the fourth inning the Lions had put up four runs on the board with Magistro going yard yet again.

Nikki Delaney couldn't resist jumping in on sending another one packing for two more in the inning while the doubles queens of Brittany Rochford, Bianca Buono and Shannon Torosian did work to open it up even more. The day was meant to live on in record books though as Alexandra Magistro strode to the plate for the second time in the inning and decided to write her name in history taking an 0-1 pitch nearly to the side of a house in left field to set a GNAC playoff record of three home runs while tying second in NCAA single-game history to close out the Lions 17-0 win.

Emerson will now set their sights on the semifinals with elimination Saturday looming as they'll face the second-seeded Saint Joe's of Maine Monks at 2 p.m. in Wentham at Gordon College.