JWU in Driver's Seat Entering Final Day of GNAC Softball Tournament

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

#4 Albertus Magnus 15, #6 Norwich 5
PROVIDENCE, R.I./BROOKLINE, Mass. – The Albertus Magnus College softball team defeated Norwich University, 15-5, in six innings on Saturday afternoon as part of the double elimination portion of the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Tournament. Following the win, the Falcons will face Saint Joseph's of Maine in game 10 at 8 p.m. 

WINNING PITCHER: Laura Anderson (13-5) – 6 IP | 7H | 5R | 2BB | 4SO
LOSING PITCHER: Rachel Johnson (10-9) – 4.1 P | 10H | 11R | 6BB | 4SO | 1HR 

HOW IT HAPPENED

(B) 1^st INNING – Norwich jumped on the board first scoring five runs on four hits to take the early 5-0 edge over the Falcons.

(T) 2^ND INNING – Juniors Gillian Fortier (Naugatuck, Conn.) and Melissa Castillo (Taftville, Conn.) brought the Falcons to within three, 5-2, in the top of the second as both infielders recorded a run score on a double and a single, respectively.

With one out and Aliza Esposito (East Haven, Conn.) on first, Fortier would hit a deep ball down the left field sending Esposito home before Fortier scored on a two-out sinlge up the middle from Castillo. 

(T) 5^TH INNING – Bats came alive for the Falcons in the top of the fifth as the visitors drove in nine runs, including a grand slam from Daysia Wehder (Queens, N.Y.), on seven hits and a Cadets' error to take the lead for the first time, 11-5.

With no outs and bases loaded, Wehder would give the Falcons the 6-5 edge over Norwich as the catcher hit a grand slam over the left field fence, for her sixth home run of the season. Senior Megan Kelly (Bronx, N.Y.) continued the rally with a two-run RBI single as well as an error by the shortstop, but Fortier would ground out to second for the first out of the inning. Up 9-5, Norwich's Rachel Johnson would load the bases for a second time this inning and allow the ninth run to score on walk. Catuadella allowed the final run of the inning to score on a two-out RBI single up the middle.

(T) 6^th INNING – Abertus Magnus put the game away in the top of the sixth as the Falcons scored four runs on four hits and two errors to make the final score, 15-5.

INSIDE THE STATS

• Fortier, Castillo and Kelly led the Falcons' offense with three hits as well as two runs scored.
• Wehder recorded a team-high four RBI while going 1-of-4 at the plate.
• Justina George went 2-of-3 at the plate for the Cadets.
• Norwich recorded seven hits, four RBI, two walks and four strikeouts.

Courtesy of Albertus Athletics Communications. 

#2 Saint Joseph's Maine 6, #8 Simmons 3
BOSTON, Mass. – The second-seeded Saint Joseph's College (Maine) softball team scored three times in the fourth inning as part of a 6-3 victory over eighth-seeded Simmons College this afternoon on Day Three of the Great Northeast Athletic Conference Championship Tournament at Daly Field in Brighton, Mass. The Monks improve to 22-16 on the season, while the Sharks end their season at 15-25.

SJC advances to take on number four seed Albertus Magnus College, a 15-5 winner over sixth seed Norwich University, at 8:00 p.m. at Daly Field.

First year second baseman Libby Pomerleau (Saco, Maine) reached base four times for Saint Joseph's, going 3-3 with a walk and a run scored, while sophomore first baseman Melodie Bailey (Lebanon, Maine) was 2-4 with a run batted in and a run scored. Sophomore shortstop Meghan Elliott (Blackstone, Mass.) also went 2-4 with an RBI and a run and senior center fielder Carla Tripp (Lovell, Maine) was 2-4 with a run scored. Senior starting pitcher Kylie McFadden (Dover, N.H.) (11-7) went the distance, allowing three runs (two earned) on seven hits and two walks, while fanning two in seven complete innings.

First year second baseman Lauren Del Vacchio (Murrieta, Calif.) and first year center fielder Molly Hennessey (Charlton, Mass.) each went 2-4 with a run batted in for Simmons, while senior catcher Alison Gauvin (Whitefield, Maine) finished her career by going 2-3 with a triple and two runs scored. First year hurler Alex Soqui (Acushnet, Mass.) (3-6) suffered the loss, giving up five runs (three earned) on nine hits and a walk in six innings of work.

The Monks faced a 2-1 deficit, before scoring three runs in the fourth to take a 4-2 lead. Bailey opened the frame with a single down the right field line and moved to third when senior third baseman Mariah Harrison (Buxton, Maine) reached on an error and advanced to second to put both runners in scoring position with no outs. Sophomore designated player Kristal Smith (Pittston, Maine) grounded out to the pitcher and Bailey crossed the plate to tie the game at 2-2. First year left fielder Kaylee Burns (Saco, Maine) singled to right to drive in Harrison with the go-ahead run. Sophomore right fielder Katie Chadbourne (Jaffrey, N.H.) followed with a single to left, to put Burns on second. Tripp stroked a single to center, but Burns was gunned down at the plate on a strike from Hennessey in center field. Saint Joseph's scored its fourth run when Tripp drew a throw on a delayed steal, but made it back to first, while Chadbourne scored from third on the front end of the steal.

The Sharks pulled to within 4-3 with a run in the fifth when Gauvin roped a triple down the left field line and scored on a single up the middle from Del Vacchio. Senior third baseman Brianna Rastello (Salem, N.H.) reached on an error to put two runners on base with no outs, but McFadden escaped with three straight outs.

The Monks scored two insurance runs in the top of the seven to give them a 6-3 margin. Pomerleau and Elliott reached on consecutive singles to begin the frame, before Bailey singled to right center with an out to score Pomerleau with their fifth run. Harrison singled deep in the hole on the left side to plate Elliott with the sixth run.

Simmons got a leadoff single off the bat of Del Vacchio in the bottom of the inning, but the Sharks were unable to put a rally together as SJC came away with the win.

Saint Joseph's broke into the scoring column with a run in the third to take a 1-0 lead. Tripp broke up a no-hitter with two outs in the frame and Pomerleau followed with an infield single, before Elliott stroked a single to center to bring home the game's first run. Simmons responded with a pair of runs in the bottom of the frame to take a 2-1 edge. Gauvin cracked a leadoff single to left center and later scored when Rastello's fly to right was mishandled for an error. The Sharks took advantage as Hennessey followed with an RBI single through the left side to score Rastello and give Simmons a 2-1 lead.

Courtesy of SJC Athletics Communications. 

#1 JWU 6, #3 Suffolk 0
BROOKLINE, Mass. – Inclement weather moved Saturday's GNAC softball tournament to Simmons' Daly Field, but Johnson & Wales University felt right at home. The Wildcats advanced to finals of the GNAC Tournament by shutting out Suffolk, 6-0

Record:
Suffolk: 27-16
Johnson & Wales: 33-7

Statistical Leaders:
Diana Amendolara (JWU): 2-3,2 R, 3 RBI
Tiffani Semanchik (JWU): 2-3, 1 R, 1 RBI
Ashley Zulla (SUF): 2-4

Of Note:
With the victory, the Wildcats broke the program's single-season mark for wins. Last year's JWU squad won 32 games on its way to the NCAA Tournament.

JWU got on the board first with a pair of runs in the second inning. Leftfielder Diana Amendolara (Newtown, Pa.) and designated player Tiffani Semanchik (Flemington, NJ) picked up back-to-back one-out singles. Centerfielder Kristin Frost's (Pearl City, Hawaii) fly ball was dropped, allowing Amendolara and Semancik to score.

Amendolara roped a triple into the right field gap to score Emily Gorecki (Bremerton, Wash.) and Brenna DuPerry (Cranston, RI) in the top of the third. Semanchick followed with a double to plate Amendolara.

Once again it was Amendolara driving in a run as her fifth-inning ground out scored Frost.

JWU hurler Jennifer Corona (Middle Island, NY) gave up seven hits but kept the Rams off the scoreboard. She struck out five batters and issued four walks.

Up Next:
Johnson & Wales waits to find out its opponent in Sunday's 12:30 p.m. game. The Wildcats face the winner of the 10 a.m. game between Suffolk and Albert Magnus.

Courtesy of JWU Athletics Communications. 

#4 Albertus Magnus 8, #2 SJC Maine 0
Brookline, Mass. – Junior Megan Ferraro of the Albertus Magnus College softball team didn't allow a single run to score as the Falcons defeated Saint Joseph's (Me.), 8-0, in five inning on Saturday evening at Daly Field.

Following tonight's victory, the Falcons will face Suffolk University tomorrow, May 7 in the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Tournament at 10 a.m. with the winner advancing to the championship game vs. Johnson & Wales.

WINNING PITCHER:  Megan Ferraro (14-5) – 5 IP | 1SO
LOSING PITCHER: Kristal Smith (8-6) – 2 P | 6H | 6R | 1BB | 3SO 

HOW IT HAPPENED

(B) 2^nd – 3^rd INNING – Albertus Magnus took control of game 10 in the bottom of the second, scoring three runs on four hits and a Monks' error to take an early 3-0 lead.

An inning later, the Falcons scored another three runs on four hits to push their lead to 8-0 heading into the top of the fourth. Junior Daysia Wehder (Queens, N.Y.) highlighted the inning with a two-run RBI triple down the right field line, forcing the Monks to go to their bullpen for relief. 

(B) 5th INNING - Freshman Morgan Shura (East Haven, Conn.) put the game away in the bottom of the fifth as the rookie allowed the final two runs of the game to score on a single to right center.

INSIDE THE STATS

• Ferraro allowed only two hits for the Monks.
• Against the Monks' bullpen, the Falcons recorded 11 hits, seven RBI, two walks and four strikeouts.
• Four different players led the Falcons offense with two hits a piece while a trio of players collected a hit.
• Senior Rachel Cataudella (Shelton, Conn.) and Aliza Esposito (East Haven, Conn.) recorded a team-high two runs scored.
• Freshman Morgan Shura (East Haven, Conn.) finished the game 2-of-2 at the plate as well as recorded a team-high three RBI.

Courtesy of Albertus Athletics Communications. 

First Round - Tuesday, May 2 (single elimination) | RECAP
Game 1: #8 Simmons 6, #5 St. Joseph (Conn.) 4 | BOX
Game 2: #6 Norwich 7, #7 Emmanuel 2 | BOX

Second Round - Thursday, May 4 (double-elim begins) | RECAP
Game 3: #4 Albertus Magnus 9, #8 Simmons 0 (at #1 JWU) | BOX
Game 4: #3 Suffolk 4, #6 Norwich 0 (at #2 SJC) | BOX
Game 5: #1 JWU 13, #4 Albertus Magnus 12 | BOX
Game 6: #3 Suffolk 5, #2 Saint Joseph's Maine 2 | BOX

Semifinals - Saturday, May 6 (hosted by #1 JWU)
Game 7: #4 Albertus Magnus 15, #6 Norwich 5 | BOX
Game 8: #2 Saint Joseph's Maine 6, #8 Simmons 3 | BOX
Game 9: #3 Suffolk vs. #1 JWU - 5PM at DALY FIELD
Game 10: #4 Albertus Magnus 8, #2 SJC Maine 0 | BOX

Championship - Sunday, May 7 (hosted by #1 JWU)
Game 11: Game 9 loser vs. Game 10 winner (elim game) - 10:00 AM
Game 12: Game 11 winner vs. Game 9 winner - 12:30 PM
Game 13: if necessary - 3:00 PM

Founded in 1995, the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) is an NCAA Division III association made up of 12 member institutions and over 3,000 student-athletes across the New England region. Each year, the GNAC sponsors and administers 17 championships, while balancing academic integrity, athletic opportunities and community involvement. 

– #TheGNAC –