Softball Splits With Emmanuel

BOSTON, Mass. – Freshman Sam Curran (Quincy, Mass.) had three hits – including a pair in game two – while classmate Sam Burgner (Dalton, Mass.) struck out 14 batters in 14 innings of work as Wentworth and Emmanuel split a pair of softball games. The Saints took the first game by a 3-0 score while the host Leopards took the nightcap 4-2.

Emmanuel scored a pair of runs in the top of the first inning of the opener when sophomore Julia Levins (Uxbridge, Mass.) led off with a bunt single and was moved over to second. A junior Kelly Lloid (Issaquah, Wash.) single moved her to third before she scored when Lloid stole second. After Lloid advanced to third on a passed ball, freshman Alexanda Bressette (North Easton, Mass.) delivered a single to give the visitors a 2-0 lead.

The game remained 2-0 in favor of the Saints until the fifth inning when the visitors tacked on another run. Freshman Arealles Ortiz (Montpelier, Vt.) led off with an infield single and went to second on an error. Junior Jackie Murray (Saugus, Mass.), who came on to pinch run for Ortiz, stole third and scored on a Leopard error. Emmanuel had a chance to add to its lead in the seventh, but left runners on second and third.

Lloid (2-4) picked up the win for the Saints as she yielded just three hits and struck out five batters. From the fourth to seventh innings she set down 10 batters in a row and 11 of the final 12 batters she faced. Offensively, freshman Julia Demirali (West Roxbury, Mass.) was 3-for-3, while Levins was 2-for-2.

Burgner took the loss (1-5) for the Leopards, allowing three runs (one earned) on eight hits and striking out seven. Curran, sophomore Haylee Bacik (Lowell, Mass.), and sophomore Brooke Tyler (Rowley, Mass.) each had a hit.

In the nightcap the Black & Gold struck for three runs in the home half of the third inning as freshman Adrienne Small (Belfast, Maine) drew a leadoff walk and was sacrificed to second. A two out walk by freshman Isabella Grassetti (Monson, Mass.) put runners at first and second and Curran struck a two-run double to center to give Wentworth a 2-0 lead. A batter later, freshman Liz Glavin (Ipswich, Mass.) delivered a single up the middle, plating Curran.

Wentworth added a run in the sixth inning when senior Randi Swihart (Gardner, Mass.), who drew a one-out walk and went to second on a groundout, scored on a wild pitch.

Emmanuel mounted a comeback in the seventh as Lloid led off by reaching on a two-base error and went to third on an infield hit by Bressette. Freshman Catherine Bergeron (Sandwich, Mass.) reached on the Leopards second miscue of the inning and a fielder's choice by Miriam Isreb plated Lloid. Garrity singled to drive in Bressette, but Isreb was out trying to go back to second. A walk to Murray placed runners on first and second with two outs but a popup to Glavin ended the game.

Burgner allowed two runs (zero earned) on four hits, walked one, and struck out seven to improve to 2-5 on the season. Curran had two RBI, while Glavin added one RBI.

Levins took the loss (0-3) for the Saints, allowing three runs on four hits and striking out six in four innings. Garrity pitched the final two innings, allowing one run on one hit.

Wentworth sits at 3-6 and hosts Mass. Maritime on Tuesday for a non-conference doubleheader. Emmanuel falls to 2-10 and opens GNAC play Thursday night against Anna Maria.