BOSTON, MA - Emerson College (8-4, 2-0 GNAC) defeated St. Joe's
(6-6, 0-2) twice, 6-3 and 5-3, to earn a conference twin bill sweep
on Saturday. Emily Leverone '11
(Hampton, NH) was 5-7 with two runs in the two-game set, while
starting pitchers Kiera Walsh '11
(Benton, ME) and Christy Wezowicz
'10 (Granville, MA) took the losses in the circle, despite allowing
just one earned run apiece.
In the opener, Emerson scored all six of their runs in the first
inning, with five being unearned. Nikki Battaglia '10 (Freehold,
NJ) singled home Catie McDonough '09 (North Adams, MA), who reached
with a two-out base hit. After an infield error allowed a run to
score, the Lions went on to tack on four runs with a Christina
Naramore '11 (Amissville, VA) single and a two-run homer off the
bat of Sierra Wood '11 (Torrance, CA), giving the hosts an early
6-0 lead.
Ellen Neff '11 (Chester, VT)
scored on an RBI single by Liddy van der Linden '10 (Worcester, MA)
to put the Lady Monks on the board in the third inning.
St. Joe's got back-to-back triples from Leverone
and Maria Labbe '12 (Lewiston,
ME) to open the fourth frame. The next batter,
Neff, plated Labbe with a double
down the right field line to cap the game scoring with Emerson on
top, 6-3.
Third baseman Samantha Gray '12
(Yarmouth, ME) was 2-2 at the plate and Leverone
bashed a pair of triples for the Lady Monks. Saint Joseph's
stranded nine baserunners in the loss.
Walsh allowed nine hits and did not walk a batter
and falls to 4-1 on the year. The sophomore hurler has issued just
one free pass in 32 innings so far this season.
Kelsey Tuthill '12 (Middlefield, CT) earned the victory in the
circle for Emerson after tossing three innings and allowing five
hits, three walks and three earned runs while whiffing three.
Brittany Martin '11 (Las Vegas, NV), Battaglia and Wood notched two
hits apiece for the victors.
GAME TWO
St. Joe's and Emerson swapped runs in the first and the Lady Monks
added a run off a Lions miscue in the second frame to gain a 2-1
lead. Center fielder Anna Willis
'10 (Gorham, ME) led off the first inning with a single and scored
on a wild pitch to account for the first SJC run.
In the bottom of the third, Emerson took advantage of another
misplayed ball by Saint Joseph's to score three unearned runs and
take a 4-2 lead. With runners on second and third and two out,
Kendal Pieguss '12 (Suquamish, WA) doubled down the left field line
to send both players home and later scored by stealing home as part
of a double steal play, closing out the scoring for the
contest.
Leverone was 3-3 with a run and
Natasha Howard '11 (Farmington,
ME) went 2-3 with an RBI in the losing effort.
Wezowicz fell to 2-1 on the season, allowing eight
hits, one walk and one earned run while striking out a pair for St.
Joe's.
Starting pitcher Sara Murray '12 (Auburn, NH), with four hits, one
walk and two earned runs allowed in 3 1/3 innings, received credit
for the win for Emerson. Tuthill recorded a save with two hits and
two walks allowed , while fanning a pair, in 3 2/3 innings.
Saint Joseph's will host Simmons College in a GNAC twin bill on
Friday, March 27th. First pitch is scheduled for 3:00 PM.