PAXTON, Mass. – With all of the top-four seeds in the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) North Division still up for grabs on the scheduled final day of the regular season, the Emmanuel Saints softball program split a pair of games on Sunday afternoon with the Anna Maria AMCATS from the AMCAT Softball Diamond.

The split of the doubleheader moves the Saints to 14-22 (8-4 GNAC North) and takes them out of contention for the top seed in the division based on other results from the afternoon. The AMCATS go to 11-21 (2-10 GNAC North), as their season comes to a close.

GAME ONE: Anna Maria 3 – Emmanuel 1
The Saints only run of game one came in the top of the first with the help of an RBI groundout by senior Taylor Chelak, to give Emmanuel a 1-0 lead. The game was tied an inning later as the AMCATS cashed in on an RBI single by junior Madison Levesque in the bottom of the second.

Emmanuel had their best chance to score in the top of the fifth with two runners in scoring position and no outs. But a strikeout, missed squeeze bunt attempt, and inning-ending strikeout ended the Saints threat, keeping the game tied 1-1.

In the bottom half of the inning, Anna Maria took advantage with their opportunity of two runners in scoring position with one out. The Saints surrendered a run on an RBI groundout, while an RBI single by junior Paige Stewart doubled the Anna Maria lead to 3-1.

The Saints managed just one base runner in the last two innings as the AMCATS pulled off the 3-1 upset of the Saints.

Anna Maria had seven hits as a team, all singles, led by graduate Madison Ayik, who finished 3-for-3. Sophomore pitcher Lauryn Meade threw a complete game, allowing one run on six hits with eight strikeouts, improving to 6-9 in the win.

Saints first-year Molly Carnes batted 1-for-3 with a triple in the second. Sophomore Mia Fernandes finished 1-for-2 with a double. Senior Madison Marks threw six innings, allowing three runs on seven hits, while falling to 8-10.

GAME TWO: Emmanuel 13 – Anna Maria 10
The Saints looked poised for a smooth game two win, leading 6-1 until the AMCATS fifth inning nearly changed the playoff future of the Saints.

Anna Maria entered the bottom of the fifth down five but left the frame with a four-run lead. The first eight batters reached safely, including six singles, a walk, and a two-run homer. By the time the Saints recorded the first out of the inning, the AMCATS held a 7-6 edge.

The scoring continued with an RBI single by Levesque, followed by a two-run single by first-year Makenna Lovelette, giving Anna Maria a 10-6 lead. By the end of the inning, the AMCATS scored nine runs on nine hits, forcing two pitching changes from the Saints.

But the Saints offense wasn't finished, eventually matching their largest run output of the season, thanks to seven runs over the final two innings to complete the comeback win.
In the top of the sixth, Fernandes scored on a passed ball, cutting the deficit to three. Two batters later, Marks hit a two-run homer to left field, her team-leading fifth of the season, leaving the Saints trailing 10-9.

The final moments of the comeback were finished off in the top of the seventh, as the Saints tied the game on an RBI single by Fernandes. After a walk to Chelak loaded the bases with two outs, Marks came through in the clutch with a bases-clearing, three-run hit to center field, putting the Saints back on top, 13-10.

After the first two batters of the bottom of the seventh reached safely, first-year Lauren Peers reentered to save her start as a strikeout, fly out, and groundout finished the high-scoring affair in the Saints favor, 13-10.

Marks finished 3-for-5 with a home run and five RBI. Fernandes also batted 3-for-5, adding two RBI and three runs scored.

Junior pitcher Gwyneth Gagnon was part of the Saints' pitching combinations in game two. In her 1.2 innings, she allowed only one hit while earning her first career collegiate win and a 1-0 record. Peers totaled five innings between her two stints in the circle, earning her first career collegiate save.

UP NEXT
With the other results around the GNAC North, the Saints will enter the postseason as the second or third seed. The doubleheader between Simmons and Saint Joseph's of Maine was postponed due to rain and rescheduled for Monday.

Depending on the final results of Simmons and SJC, the Saints will be either the second or third seed. With one of those seeds secured, Saints softball returns for the opening stages of GNAC Postseason Pod Play on Thursday, May 1, with their opponent and location yet to be determined.