Emerson Takes Two from Saint Joseph's

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.