Albertus Magnus, Suffolk Both Advance in ECAC New England Softball Championship
In ECAC first-round action Wednesday, No. 3 Albertus topped Newbury, 7-4, and No. 4 Suffolk defeated Becker, 3-2, as both advance into the double-elimination round.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The two GNAC programs to qualify for the 2015 ECAC Division III New England Softball Championship have advanced into this weekend's double-elimination portion of the tournament at Brandeis University, as third-seeded Albertus Magnus College topped sixth-seeded Newbury College, 7-4, and fourth-seeded Suffolk University defeated fifth-seeded Becker College, 3-2, on Wednesday afternoon.
As a result, the top two seeds from this season's GNAC Softball Tournament move on to the four-team double-elimination round on Saturday (and Sunday) at top-seeded Brandeis. Both the host Judges and second-seeded University of Southern Maine received first-round byes into the four-team double.
On Saturday at Marcus Field in Waltham, Mass., Suffolk will take on Brandeis at 10:00 a.m., followed by Albertus Magnus taking on Southern Maine at approximately 12:00 p.m. The two losers from each game will square off at approximately 2:00 p.m. in an elimination game.
The three remaining teams will advance into Sunday action, also at Brandeis.
#3 ALBERTUS MAGNUS 7, #6 NEWBURY 4
WEST HAVEN, Conn. - Alyssa Puccilli (Milford, Conn.) went 3-for-4 with two RBI as she registered her 100th career hit as the Albertus Magnus softball team defeated Newbury College 7-4 in 2015 Division III ECAC New England Quarterfinal action in East Haven, Conn.
Today's win marked the 25th of 2015 for the Falcons as they continue to add to their record-breaking season, while it was also their first ECAC Tournament victory.
The Falcons will now play second-seeded Southern Maine at Brandeis on Saturday, May 9 in a noon-time match-up.
Puccilli's 100th hit came in the sixth inning when her RBI single plated the Falcons' seventh run of the day to give Albertus a 7-1 lead.
Albertus used a four-run third inning to strike first. Senior Brittney Urciuoli (Newington, Conn.) led off the inning with a triple, her first of the season, before Gillian Fortier (Naugatuck, Conn.), the GNAC Player and Rookie of the Year, lined a ball over the third baseman to score Urciuoli from third. Melissa Castillo (Taftville, Conn.) and Puccilli both recorded RBI singles in the frame to help the Falcons jump out to the 4-0 lead.
Albertus added two more runs in the fifth inning before Newbury got on the scoreboard in the top of the sixth.
In the bottom of the frame, with two outs and two on, Puccilli notched her 100th career hit, which also gave the Falcons a 7-1 lead.
Newbury loaded the bases with no outs in the top of the seventh. Megan Ferraro (Branford, Conn.) came in for relief for the Falcons, replacing Samantha Maselli (Rockville Centre, N.Y.) who made the start and earned her 16th win of the season as she improved to 16-3 with the win.
Newbury ended up scoring three runs in the inning led by Alyssa Donovan. Donovan finished the game 2-for-4 with three RBI.
Ferraro earned the save in the contest, her second of the year.
Newbury's Olivia Kenyon took the loss, falling to 18-12 on the year. Kenyon allowed seven runs on 13 hits. She struck out six batters.
Maselli allowed four runs, one earned, on seven hits in six innings. She struck out three batters. Ferraro gave up just one hit.
Both Amanda Jessey (East Haven, Conn.) and Carli Matrisian (Milford, Conn.) had two hits apiece, while Castillo finished the game with two hits, two RBI and one run scored. Brianna Spadacenta (East Haven, Conn.) went 1-for-1 with a pinch-hit double that plated two runners.
#4 SUFFOLK 3, #5 BECKER 2
LEICESTER, Mass. – The fourth-seeded Rams used a two run sixth inning to overcome a one run deficit to defeat the fifth-seeded Hawks in the six team single elimination tournament.
Freshman Allison Loftus (Oak Park, Ill.)hit a two run go ahead double with one out in the sixth to put Suffolk up for good as they now advance to Saturday's semifinal round against top-seed Brandeis University.
Senior Sarah Chasse (Salem, Mass.) hurled a complete game, striking out eight hitters over seven innings of work while allowing no earned runs on six hits. The win moves Chasse to a 10-5 mark on the season.
Freshman Devlin Frost (Tewksbury, Mass.) scored the game's first run in the bottom of the third inning as Suffolk opened the scoring on either side. Junior Meredith Ball(Nahant, Mass.) opened the inning with a base hit before being retired on a fielder's choice off the bat of Frost. Frost would later advance into scoring position on a passed ball and come around to plate the first run of the game on an infield error.
Becker would answer however in their following at bat scoring both of their runs in the top half of the fourth. Senior Megan Bolduc (Dover, N.H.) would double home the tying run of the game as freshman Samantha Lee (Prospect, Conn.) came around to score as she led off the inning reaching on an error. Bolduc would later come around to score in the inning on a throwing error.
Freshman Madison Eucalitto (Old Saybrook, Conn.) would walk with one out in the sixth inning to get the rally started for Suffolk. Following an infield error, freshman Morgan Parmeter (Maynard, Mass.) would draw a walk to load the bases. Loftus would then double to right center bringing the two runs home giving Suffolk the one run advantage heading into the final inning.
Chasse would retire the side in order 1-2-3 to close out the game as she put down the final six hitters she faced in the game in order.
Ball was 2-for-4 on the afternoon as Suffolk only mustered three hits in the victory. Loftus' double accounted for the only other Suffolk hit.
The victory moves Suffolk to a 25-14 overall record on the season.
Quarterfinals – Wednesday, May 6
No. 1 Brandeis (17-14) – First Round bye
No. 2 Southern Maine (23-18) – First Round bye
No. 3 Albertus Magnus 7, No. 6 Newbury 4 | BOX
No. 4 Suffolk 3, No. 5 Becker 2 | BOX
Semifinals – Saturday, May 9, 2015 at Brandeis (double-elimination begins)
Game #1 - No. 1 Brandeis vs. No. 4 Suffolk - 10:00 am
Game #2 - No. 2 Southern Maine vs. No. 3 Albertus Magnus – 12:00 pm
Game #3 - Loser of game 1 vs. loser of game 2 – 2:00 pm
Game #4 - Winner of game 1 vs. winner of game 2 – 4:00 p
Championship – Sunday, May 10 at Brandeis
Game #5 - Loser of game 4 vs. winner of game 3 – 11:00 am
Game #6 - Winner of game 4 vs. winner of game 5 – 1:00 pm
Game #7 - Winner of game 6 vs. loser of game 6 (if necessary) – 3:00 pm