Emerson Blanks St. Joe's, 3-0

NEWTON, MA - #1 Emerson College (31-7, 22-3 GNAC) deterred #2 Saint Joseph's (27-11, 18-6), 3-0, in a pitcher's duel featuring the top two seeds in a conference tournament semi-final matchup at Lasell College on Saturday. SJC starter Madylan Kluna '12 (Standish, ME) allowed six hits in the losing effort. The Lady Monks will take on Pine Manor in an elimination contest on Sunday at 11:00 AM.

Emerson pitcher Kelsey Tuthill (FY, Middletown, Conn.) struck out 16 and didn't allow a hit until the sixth inning.

The game was a pitcher's dual through the first six innings with Tuthill being matched pitch for pitch by the Kluna. The game remained scoreless through six innings with neither team mounting a credible scoring threat, and neither team advancing a runner past second base.

In the top of the seventh for Emerson pinch hitter Christina Naramore (So., Las Vegas, Nev.) lead off with a walk. Jordan Newell was sent in to pinch run. Jilisa Rawding (So., Tewksbury, Mass.) laid down a sacrifice bunt to move Newell to second. Catie McDonough (Sr., North Adams, Mass.) followed with a single moving Newell to third. Bridget Farago (Jr., Oneonta, N.Y.) was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Kendall Piegus (FY, Suquamish, Wash.) sent a fly to shallow right field and Newell scored on a close play at the plate with McDonough and Farago advancing on the play. Lynn Herman (So., Boca Raton, fla.) then ripped a single to right centerfield scoring two, but was thrown out trying to stretch the base hit to a double.

Alyssa Dunn (So., Standish, Maine) led ofF the Saint Joseph's seventh with a double and advanced to third on a wild pitch with no outs. Tuthill then struck out the side to preserve the win and earn her 17th victory against only three defeats on the season.

Emerson will play for the championship on Sunday at 1:00pm against the winner of the Saint Joseph's-Pine Manor elimination game at 11:00am. The game will be played at Mount Ida College.

COURTESY OF EMERSON SPORTS INFORMATION