Albertus Magnus Lone Unbeaten Team Remaining in GNAC Softball Tournament

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

EAST BOSTON, Mass. - Second-seeded Albertus Magnus College has yet to lose in the 2015 GNAC Softball Tournament and can capture the league championship with a win tomorrow at 12:15 p.m. at East Boston's American Legion Field.

The Falcons defeated fifth-seeded Johnson & Wales University, 9-0, in the third of four contests played in East Boston, Mass. on Saturday, to remain without a loss in the double-elimination portion of the tournament. 

Third-seeded Saint Joseph's College of Maine won twice Saturday to stay alive. The Monks upset top seed Suffolk University, 3-0, in the first game on Saturday, bouncing the hosts from the tournament, then  later defeated sixth-seeded Emmanuel College, 6-0, to advance into Sunday. 

Despite the loss to Albertus, Johnson & Wales was only forced to play once on Saturday after winning twice on Friday as double-elimination play began. 

As a result, Saint Joseph's (Maine) and Johnson & Wales will square off at 10:00 a.m. Sunday at American Legion Field in another elimination contest, with Albertus awaiting the winner. If the Falcons falter in the 12:15 game, the deciding if-necessary game would follow.

In the second of four contests on Saturday, Emmanuel eliminated fourth-seeded Simmons College with a 1-0 victory, before the Saints saw their season end with their loss to the Monks. 

#3 SAINT JOSEPH'S 4, #1 SUFFOLK 0
EAST BOSTON, Mass. – Senior Theresa Hendrix (Scarborough, Maine/Cheverus) allowed just two hits in the complete game shutout to lift the Monks to victory. 

The Monks jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead in the home half of the first inning as junior Melissa Mayhew (Hiram, Maine) doubled home the first two runs of the contest. Sophomore Carla Tripp (Lovell, Maine) would open the inning by drawing a walk, before a two out hit by pitch to Hendrix extended the inning.

In the second, junior Megen Pollini (Wolfeboro, N.H.) led the inning off with a double as she would later come around to score on a fielder's choice off the bat of senior Victoria Ramos (North Scituate, R.I.) for the 3-0 edge.

Sophomore Jennifer Murphy (Andover, Mass.) would add a run in the sixth as her base hit plated senior Kim Jordan (Bangor, Maine) who tripled to start things.

Pollini was the lone player on either side to record multiple hits in the game as she was 2-for-3 with a run scored. Three of the Monks five hits in the contest were for extra bases.

Freshman Morgan Parmeter (Maynard, Mass.) reached base in all three of her plate appearances on the day as she accounted for one of Suffolk's two hits in the game with a single in the third and a pair of walks.

Sophomore Kristen Young (Windsor, Conn.) was 1-for-3 with a single in the third as well.

Perhaps their best scoring opportunity came in the third as both PArmeter and Young singled. Following her single that moved Parmeter to third, Young would steal second but Hendrix escaped the jam on a comebacker to the mound.

Senior Sarah Chasse (Salem, Mass.) went six innings on the mound for Suffolk as she allowed all four runs on five hits while striking out just one.

Suffolk fell in last night's opener to Johnson & Wales by a 13-0 score to move them into Saturday's loser's bracket.

With the losses Suffolk falls to a 24-12 record on the season after winning a league best 17 games during the year in conference play. They will now travel to Brandeis University for a non-conference twinbill beginning at 3:00pm on Wednesday before waiting for the ECAC Division-III New England Softball Championship Tournament field to be announced.

Saint Joseph's College will look to capture their program's fifth consecutive GNAC championship on Sunday.

#6 EMMANUEL 1, #4 SIMMONS
Emmanuel scored on a throwing error to supply the only run it would need in its 1-0 victory Simmons. The Saints improve to 20-16 on the season, while the Sharks fall to 18-15. 

Sophomore starting pitcher Jill Kilcoyne (Worcester, Mass.) threw a complete game three-hitter for the Saints, while walking four and striking out nine to improve to 13-6 on the season.

Emmanuel scored the game's only run in the bottom of the second inning. Sophomore first baseman Susie Kieselback (Wethersfield, Conn.) and sophomore right fielder Erin Walsh (Granby, Conn.) began the frame with back-to-back singles, before sophomore designated player Samantha Adams (Sanford, Maine) drew a one-out walk to load the bases. Simmons senior starting pitcher Lauren Backhaus (Windsor, Conn.) induced a come-backer to the mound and threw home to get the force at the plate, but the catcher's throw to first to complete the double play was too high, enabling Walsh to score the only run of the contest.

The Sharks put at least one runner in scoring position in each of the first four innings, but were unable to score each time. Senior shortstop Hannah Cunningham (Cotuit, Mass.) and sophomore third baseman Kat Guillotte (New Bedford, Mass.) each drew a walk in the top of the first to put Cunningham on second with one out, but Kilcoyne struck out the final two batters of the inning to strand the runners. Simmons received a leadoff double off the bat of sophomore rightfielder Katie Nosky (Dedham, Mass.) in the second, but a ground out and two more strikeouts by Kilcoyne ended the rally.

The Sharks put runners on second and third in the third inning, following a walk issued to junior second baseman Mikaela Caracciolo (North Attleboro, Mass.) and a double to left center from Backhaus, but Kilcoyne induced a pop-up to squelch the threat. Nosky opened the fourth with another double, but again was stranded as Kilcoyne got the next three outs for the Saints.

Kieselback, Walsh and junior shortstop Catherine Davis (Wethersfield, Conn.) each collected a single for Emmanuel, while Nosky ripped a pair of doubles and Backhaus singled to lead the Simmons offense. 

Backhaus (11-7) suffered the loss for the Sharks, allowing one unearned run on three hits and two walks, while fanning two.

Simmons will await to see if they are chosen to play in the Eastern College Athletic Conference to extend its season.

#2 ALBERTUS MAGNUS 9, #5 JOHNSON & WALES 0
Albertus cruised to its 9-0 victory over Johnson & Wales (R.I.) in six innings to advance to the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Tournament Championship on Sunday. 

With the victory, the Falcons improve to 24-11 on the year as their 24 victories this season mark the most in program history. The Falcons scored at least one run in the first three innings of play in East Boston as they jumped out to a 4-0 lead. Albertus added three runs in the fifth and then two in the sixth en route to the 9-0 win.

Alyssa Puccilli (Milford, Conn.) led the Falcons as she went 3-for-4 with one run scored and three RBI. Brianna Whitfield (West Islip, N.Y.) went 2-for-4 with one RBI and two runs scored. Freshman Gillian Fortier (Naugatuck, Conn.) added a 2-for-3 performance with a double and a triple as well as two runs.

In the circle, Samantha Maselli (Rockville Centre, N.Y.) earned the win as she improved to 15-3 on the year. She went 5.1 innings, allowing seven hits and no runs as she combined with Megan Ferraro (Branford, Conn.) for the shutout. Ferraro recorded the final two outs of the afternoon for Albertus.

Jennifer Corona picked up the loss for JWU as she fell to 15-7 on the year. She went 4.2 innings as she allowed six earned runs and eight hits.

#3 SAINT JOSEPH'S MAINE 6, #6 EMMANUEL 0
Saint Joseph's (Maine) scored six times in the eighth inning, including a three-run home run from senior third baseman Kim Jordan (Bangor, Maine), to post its 6-0 victory over Emmanuel. The Monks improve to 27-12 on the season and advance to the final day of competition.

The teams played scoreless ball through seven innings, until Saint Joseph's took advantage of an Emmanuel miscue in the top of the eighth to score six runs.

Senior Theresa Hendrix (Scarborough, Maine) dumped a single into right field to lead off the frame, before advancing to second on a sacrifice and to third on a stolen base. Sophomore Jennifer Murphy (Andover, Mass.) finally broke through with a single up the middle to plate the first run of the contest. Junior left fielder Megen Pollini (Wolfeboro, N.H.) worked a one-out walk and sophomore center fielder Carla Tripp (Lovell, Maine) reached, when the Saints' first baseman couldn't handle the throw on a sacrifice bunt, to load the bases. Freshman Kelsy Gaddy (Limington, Maine) drew a walk to force in the second run of the day and keep the bases full.

Senior right fielder Victoria Ramos (North Scituate, R.I.) knocked in another run with a ground out to give the Monks a 3-0 lead. Kim Jordan delivered the big blow of the inning when she drove a three-one pitch over the left fielder's head and raced around the bases for an inside-the-park three-run homer and a 6-0 cushion.

Emmanuel, which did not have a runner advance past second base the entire game, was set down in order in the eighth as Saint Joseph's secured the victory.

Senior starting pitcher Laura Jordan (Orrington, Maine) scattered six hits and did not issue a walk, while striking out two in six and a third innings of work for the Monks, before Hendrix tossed one and two-thirds innings of hitless relief to earn the victory and improve to 6-1. Sophomore hurler Jill Kilcoyne (Worcester, Mass.) (13-7) took the loss for the Saints, allowing three runs (one earned) on eight hits and two walks, while fanning nine in seven and a third innings.

Kim Jordan, Hendrix and Murphy all had two hits to pace the Saint Joseph's offense, while six players collected singles for Emmanuel, including Catherine Davis (Wethersfield, Conn.), Abbey Alexiades (Kingston, Mass.), Erin Walsh (Granby, Conn.), Brooke Ames (Boylston, Mass.), Samantha Adams (Sanford, Maine) and Marianne Halas (Lynn, Mass.).

Game recaps Courtesy of Simmons Athletics Communications.

First Round - Tuesday, April 21 (single elimination) | RECAP
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 9, #4 Simmons 3 | BOX
Game 4: #6 Emmanuel 8, #3 Saint Joseph's Maine 3 | BOX
Game 5: #5 Johnson & Wales 13, #1 Suffolk 0 | BOX
Game 6: #2 Albertus Magnus 8, #6 Emmanuel 6 | BOX

Saturday & Sunday contests played at American Legion Playground Field, East Boston, Mass.

Semifinals - Saturday, April 25 (Hosted by Suffolk)
Game 7: #3 Saint Joseph's Maine 4, #1 Suffolk 0 (Suffolk eliminated) | BOX
Game 8: #6 Emmanuel 1, #4 Simmons 0 (Simmons eliminated) | BOX
Game 9: #2 Albertus Magnus 9, #5 Johnson & Wales 0 | BOX
Game 10: #3 Saint Joseph's Maine 6, #6 Emmanuel 0 (Emmanuel eliminated) | BOX

Championship - Sunday, April 26 (Hosted by Suffolk)
Game 11: #5 Johnson & Wales vs. #3 Saint Joseph's Maine (elimination game) - 10:00 a.m.
Game 12: #2 Albertus Magnus vs Game 11 winner - 12:15 p.m.
Game 13: if necessary - 2:30 p.m.

– #theGNAC –