WINTER HAVEN, Fla. – After a day off in the Florida sun on Wednesday, Emmanuel College softball returned to the DiamondPlex Field Complex on Thursday for a morning matchup against Dominican University (Ill.) (5-2), followed by an afternoon game against Elizabethtown (2-4). The Saints fell 8-0 (F/6) in the opener and came up short in the second game, 6-4.
 
Game 1: Dominican (Ill.) 8, Emmanuel 0 (F/6)
Although the Saints drew two walks in the top of the first inning, they were unable to bring any runs across. In the bottom half, Isabella Olmos led off with a single, then stole second and third with no outs for the Stars. A groundout by the next batter brought Olmos home to give Dominican (Ill.) a 1-0 lead heading into the second inning.

The Stars extended their lead in the bottom of the second, adding two more runs. Gillian Czubernat started the inning with a walk and stolen base, then Sara Cornell tripled to drive her in. Cornell later scored on a wild pitch, giving Dominican (Ill.) a 3-0 advantage.

Emmanuel threatened in the top of the third, aiming to close the gap. Singles from Francesca Pizzarella, Abigail Farr, and Taylor Chelak with one out put the Saints in scoring position, but they were unable to cut into the Stars' lead.

An infield error and a walk to open the bottom of the third put Dominican (Ill.) on the attack again. Raegyn Davis's sacrifice fly brought home the Stars' fourth run, followed by another Saints error that added a fifth run. A base hit from Sara Cornell then extended the Dominican lead to 6-0 after three innings.

In the top of the fourth, the Stars brought Hannah Richards into the circle. Richards shut down the Saints' offense, allowing no hits over her three innings of work.

Dominican (Ill.) added a seventh run in the bottom of the fourth and sealed the 8-0 (F/6) victory when Kailee Diaz Randall led off the bottom of the sixth with a solo home run over the left field fence, triggering the run-rule.

Pizzarella, Farr, and Chelak's singles in the third inning were the Saints' only hits in the loss. Chelak also stole two bases in the game. Dominican (Ill.) was led by Cornell's three-hit performance, which included a triple and two RBI. Olmos contributed a hit, two runs, and three steals, while Richards earned the win for the Stars, tossing three no-hit, no-run innings to close out the game.
 

Game 2: Elizabethtown 6, Emmanuel 4
A one-out single by Skye Zolomij got the Blue Jays started in the top of the first. Zolomij moved to second after tagging up on a caught foul ball, then came around to score on Jess Dunn's RBI single to center to give Elizabethtown a 1-0 lead after the opening frame.

Emmanuel responded quickly as Alexis Martineau's one-out sacrifice fly brought home Francesca Pizzarella, who had walked to lead off the bottom of the first. After retiring the Blue Jays in order in the top of the second, the Saints added another run in the bottom half. Mia Fernandes' one-out double drove in Amanda Penney, giving Emmanuel a 2-1 lead through two innings.

Entering the fourth with the score still 2-1, Elizabethtown looked to regain the lead. Back-to-back one-out singles put runners on the corners before an infield error brought in the tying run. Izzy Akelaitis followed with an RBI single to put the Blue Jays in front. Elizabethtown added three more runs in the inning, scoring on a wild pitch, another single, and a Saints error, to take a 6-2 lead midway through the fourth.

The score held at 6-2 until the Saints came to bat in the bottom of the sixth. Emmanuel loaded the bases with one out before Molly Carnes lifted a sacrifice fly to bring in a run. A wild pitch allowed another run to score, but the Saints still trailed 6-4 heading into the seventh.

Despite a pinch-hit single from Rebecca Markie in the bottom of the seventh, the Saints were unable to rally, falling 6-4 to Elizabethtown.

MeKayla Poisson led the Saints with two hits and pitched two scoreless innings in relief. Jess Dunn and Izzy Akelaitis each recorded two hits for the Blue Jays, while Mikaela Benner went the distance, allowing three earned runs to earn the win.

Up next, the Saints close out their Florida trip with a final doubleheader at the DiamondPlex Field Complex tomorrow (3/7). Emmanuel faces Moravian at 4:15 P.M., followed by a matchup with Saint Mary's (Minn.) at 6:30 P.M.