JWU, Emmanuel March Forward in 2015 GNAC Softball Tournament

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

BRACKET

Fifth-seeded Johnson & Wales University blanked eighth-seeded Mount Ida College, 10-0, and sixth-seeded Emmanuel College got a sterling pitching performance from Jill Kilcoyne (pictured) to narrowly defeat seventh-seeded University of Saint Joseph (Conn.), 1-0, on Tuesday in the single-elimination first round of the 2015 GNAC Softball Tournament.

With the victories, JWU and Emmanuel move on to the double-elimination, six-team bracket. JWU will take on fourth-seeded Simmons College on Friday at 5:00 p.m. at American Legion Field in East Boston, Mass., while Emmanuel heads to second-seeded Albertus Magnus College on Friday, also at 5:00 p.m., to square off against third-seeded Saint Joseph's College of Maine.

GNAC regular-season champion and tournament host Suffolk University will face the JWU-Simmons winner at 7:00 p.m. on Friday, while Albertus takes on the Emmanuel-Saint Joseph's winner at Albertus, also at 7:00 p.m.

Host Suffolk will host all remaining games on Saturday and Sunday, April 25-26, at American Legion in East Boston. For the complete tournament schedule, please see below.

#5 JOHNSON & WALES 10, #8 MOUNT IDA 0
PROVIDENCE, R.I. - JWU sophomore Emily Schaper (Pompton Lakes, N.J.) went 1-for-3 with four RBI and sent her first career grand slam over the centerfield fence to give JWU a 4-0 lead in the first inning on Tuesday evening. Classmate Diana Amendolara (Newtown, Pa.) went 2-for-2 on the evening and scored three runs while Natalie Kehlbeck (Weymouth, Mass.) and freshman Alex Fantasia (Framingham, Mass.) each knocked in two runs for the Wildcats.

Five players were 1-for-2 at the dish for the Mustangs while Kaitlyn Muhlenforth (Bohemia, N.Y.) threw an inning of relief allowing no earned runs for the visitors.

Freshman Jennifer Corona (Middle Island, N.Y.) tossed five innings of shutout ball while striking out two and giving up just five hits. She forced the Mustangs into eight groundouts and three fly outs en route to her 13th win of the season.

The Wildcats are now 16-13 on the season while Mount Ida finishes the year with an 8-24 record.

#6 EMMANUEL 1, #7 USJ 0
BOSTON, Mass. -  Tuesday's walkoff-win for the Saints was the program's first-ever home playoff victory and the program's first playoff win since April 22, 2004 when Emmanuel topped Norwich, 4-3, in the GNAC Quarterfinals. EC is now 18-15 on the year, guaranteeing them a winning record for the first time since the 1999 campaign. The Blue Jays end the year with a 15-18 mark.

All was quiet until the seventh inning when USJ junior catcher Mary Sciglimpaglia (Norwalk, Conn.) reached second base to lead off the inning with the help of an Emmanuel miscue. EC sophomore pitcher Jill Kilcoyne (Worcester, Mass.)  stayed composed and mowed down the next three Blue Jays to retire the side and preserve a 0-0 score into the bottom of the seventh.

Saints' junior first baseman Susie Kieselback (Wethersfield, Conn.) led off the bottom of the seventh with a double to left centerfield, just missing a home run as the ball landed at the base of the wall. Sophomore outfielder Erin Walsh (Granby, Conn.) attempted to sacrifice her over to third with a bunt and was able to beat out the throw to put runners on the corners with no outs. Walsh would steal second to put two in scoring position putting two in scoring position for sophomore pinch hitter Kara Madden (Silver Spring, Md.). Madden got a good piece but directly to USJ senior shortstop Sarah Miller (Southington, Conn.). In a heads up play, Miller gunned down the runner heading home to extend the game for the Blue Jays but it didn't matter as sophomore designated player Samantha Adams (Sanford, Maine) delivered a walk-off RBI single to left, driving in Walsh to give Emmanuel the 1-0 victory.

Kilcoyne was dominant in the win, pitching a complete-game shutout with 15 strikeouts, allowing just three hits and one walk over seven innings of work.

The Blue Jays threatened in the third inning with back-to-back singles by freshman third baseman Sarah Ercoli (Watertown, Conn.) and junior second baseman Haley McCall (Lebanon, Conn.) before Kilcoyne struck out the side to keep the score at 0-0.

EC junior outfielder Marianne Halas (Lynn, Mass.) broke up a no-hit bid by USJ junior Patti Sciglimpaglia (Norwalk, Conn.) with a single down the left field line in the bottom of the third but Sciglimpaglia was able to strand her at first.

Leading off the fourth, P. Sciglimpaglia ripped a ground rule double down the left field line to give the Blue Jays a great scoring chance but Kilcoyne was able to again work her way out of the jam, striking out two before inducing an inning-ending foul-out to strand Sciglimpaglia in scoring position.

P. Sciglimpaglia was the tough-luck loser for the Blue Jays, allowing the one run on five hits while striking out six.

Game recaps courtesy of JWU, Emmanuel Athletics Communications.

First Round - Tuesday, April 21 (single elimination)
Game 1: #5 Johnson & Wales 10, #8 Mount Ida 0 | BOX
Game 2: #6 Emmanuel 1, #7 Saint Joseph (Conn.) 0 | BOX

Second Round - Friday, April 24 (double elimination begins)
Game 3: #5 Johnson & Wales vs. #4 Simmons - 5:00 p.m. (at American Legion, East Boston, Mass.)
Game 4: #6 Emmanuel vs. #3 Saint Joseph's Maine - 5:00 p.m. (at #2 Albertus Magnus)
Game 5: Game 3 winner vs. #1 Suffolk - 7:00 p.m. (at American Legion, East Boston, Mass.)
Game 6: Game 4 winner at #2 Albertus Magnus - 7:00 p.m.

Semifinals - Saturday, April 25 (Hosted by Suffolk)
Game 7: Game 4 loser vs. Game 5 loser (elimination game) - 10:00 a.m.
Game 8: Game 3 loser vs. Game 6 loser (elimination game) - 12:15 p.m.
Game 9: Game 5 winner vs. Game 6 winner - 2:30 p.m.
Game 10: Game 7 winner vs. Game 8 winner (elimination game) - 4:45 p.m. 

Championship - Sunday, April 26 (Hosted by Suffolk)
Game 11: Game 9 loser vs. Game 10 winner (elimination game) - 10:00 a.m.
Game 12: Game 9 winner vs Game 11 winner - 12:15 p.m.
Game 13: if necessary 

Saturday & Sunday site is American Legion Field, East Boston, Mass.

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