PROVIDENCE, R.I. – #3S Lasell University edged #2N Saint Joseph's College, 2-1, in a Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Softball Tournament elimination game at Johnson & Wales University on Saturday afternoon.

With the victory, Lasell stays alive in the GNAC tourney and will face off against #3N Emmanuel College in another elimination contest today at 5:30 PM. For Saint Joseph's, the loss signals the end of the 2023 season as well as the college softball careers for the Monks' four seniors: Emily Eagleston (Reading, Mass.), Sydney Hatch (Newburgh, Maine), Olivia Howe (Arundel, Maine), and Meredith Pence (Remington, Va.).

HOW IT HAPPENED:

The Monks kicked off the scoring with two out in the top of the third, when freshman catcher Sadie Tirrell (Naples, Maine) singled, stole second, and raced home on a Howe base hit to left-center.

As it played out, the single run proved to be all the Monks could muster in the low scoring setback. The Lasers tied the game with the help of an SJC error in the bottom of the fourth when Ally Kirck reached on a miscue and later scored on a sac fly off the bat of Mackenzie Still and Brianna Gendreau delivered the game-winning hit with a two-out RBI single in the bottom of the fifth.

Facing the 2-1 deficit, the Monks were unable to solve Lasell reliever Eryn Sheeley, who entered the game in the top of the fifth and proceeded to sit down nine of the 10 batters she faced. Tirrell, who reached on an infield error in the top of the sixth, was the only SJC hitter to reach base in the last three innings.

IN THE CIRCLE:

Pence was dominant in the setback, having allowed two runs (one earned) on three hits and three walks with three strikeouts over six innings. She capped her senior season with a 12-4 record.

Lasell starter Abigail Fortin gave up one run on four hits with three strikeouts but did not factor into the decision. Sheeley earned the win in relief and improved to 13-7 on the season after fanning five batters over three hitless innings.

AT THE BAT:

Sophomore Abby Carpenter (Bath, Maine) was 1-3 with a triple, Howe went 1-3 with an RBI, and Tirrell added a hit, a run, and a stolen base in three at-bats.

Gendreau registered all three of the Lasers' hits and knocked in a run.

HISTORICALLY SPEAKING:

With the loss, Saint Joseph's falls to 24-7 all-time versus Lasell University.