NEWTON, Mass. – After taking a lead into the seventh inning of a Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) softball game against Emmanuel College, Mount Ida saw the Saints tie the game and take the lead in extra innings, but the Mustangs came back to score two runs in the bottom of the eighth to capture a 4-3 win on Monday afternoon at Alumni Field.

Catcher Sam Laferriere (Tewksbury, Mass.) delivered the game-winning walk-off hit, a double to right center field, which scored shortstop Lexi Minicucci (Westfield, Mass.).

That came after pitcher Kaitlyn Muhlenforth (Bohemia, N.Y.), who was placed on second to start the eighth, came around to score the tying run on an RBI sacrifice fly by Hayley Microulis (Pawtucket, R.I.).

Muhlenforth was 2-4 at the plate and earned her first win of the year in the circle, allowing just two earned runs over eight innings along with five strikeouts.

Emmanuel got two hits from rookie third baseman Abbey Alexiades (Kingston, Mass.), who drove in two runs in the top of the seventh on a ground rule double to tie the game after the Mustangs had taken a 2-0 lead into the last inning.

The Saints got the lead in the top of the eighth on an RBI single through the left side by Kara Madden (Silver Spring, Md.), which scored Susie Kieselback (Wethersfield, Conn.), who had been placed on second.

The only run before the sixth inning came in the bottom of the second for Mount Ida, courtesy of a double to right field by Alexis Boswell (Amesbury, Mass.), which scored Minicucci, who had drawn a walk.

Mount Ida doubled its lead in the bottom of the sixth on a sacrifice fly by Laferriere, who had two RBI in the game and scored Emma Morton (Winchester, Mass.).

Emmanuel got two hits from shortstop Catherine Davis (Wethersfield, Conn.), as each team rapped out seven hits in the game.

Starter Jill Kilcoyne (Worcester, Mass.) dropped to 8-5 after allowing seven hits and four walks with two strikeouts.

Muhlenforth nearly won the game in regulation for the hosts, sending a deep fly ball to right field, but Erin Walsh (Granby, Conn.) made a diving catch to send the game to extra frames.

The Mustangs led 9-4 after four innings of game two in this GNAC doubleheader, but the hosts were forced to forfeit the contest, as players had to leave for class commitments.  The Saints picked up a 7-0 win, based on the forfeit scenario in game two.

Mount Ida (6-20, 6-11 GNAC) hits the road on Thursday for a non-conference game at Framingham State, with first pitch set for 3:00 PM.

Emmanuel (14-12, 9-7 GNAC) hosts Albertus Magnus on Thursday at 6:30 and 8:30 PM on Roberto Clemente Field.

* Release Courtesy of Mount Ida College Sports Information