SOFTBALL: JWU's 4-0 Playoff Performance Secures Wildcats' Fifth-Ever GNAC Championship
Johnson & Wales first-year head coach Jon Ladino guided the Wildcats to their fifth title in six years with victories over Emmanuel on Saturday and Sunday in Boston.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
BOSTON - The Johnson & Wales Softball Team emerged as champions of the Great Northeast Athletic Conference after defeating the Emmanuel (Mass.) Saints on Sunday afternoon. The Wildcats won 6-2, going 4-0 in the GNAC Tournament to earn the title.
JWU opened up the scoring in the top of the second inning with a solo home run by KAelani Gamble (Vancouver, Wash.). The Saints pulled the run right back in the bottom of the second frame when they executed a double steal that plated Grace Orcutt, knotting the game at one.
Jill Pulek (Chesire, Conn.) singled home Mackenzie Clee (Warminster, Penn.) in the top of the third frame to restore the Wildcat one run advantage before Gamble doubled home Pulek, giving JWU a 2-1 lead after two and a half innings. Neither team could drive a run home until Caroline Amorelli's (Winslow, N.J.) fielder's choice brought home Pulek on a throwing error. Emmanuel grabbed one back in the bottom of the sixth, cutting the deficit to two at 4-2.
Pulek singled home Julia Huzi (Trumbull, Conn.) and Clee to restore the Wildcats four run advantage. Leading 6-2 in the bottom of the seventh inning, Katie Scheid closed out the complete game to earn the victory and give the Wildcats the title.
JWU finished the season with a 36-6 record and awaits their destination for the first-round of the NCAA Tournament.
Please stay tuned for the conference's All-GNAC release on Tuesday, May 10.