BOSTON – In a venue change due to weather, the Emmanuel College softball team returned to Roberto Clemente Field on Saturday afternoon and split a Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) doubleheader against Norwich University. The Saints used clean defense while tallying 10 hits in game one for a 7-2 win, before dropping game two 7-4.

The split moves the Saints to 5-19 overall and 3-1 in GNAC play, while Norwich sits at 2-4 on the season and 1-1 in conference action.

GAME ONE: Emmanuel 7 – Norwich 2
Emmanuel, playing as the visiting team on their home field, got off to a strong start with sophomore Francesca Pizzarella walking to lead off and then scoring on a double to left-center by sophomore Mia Fernandes. Senior Taylor Chelak then added to the lead, scoring Fernandes on a base hit to put the Saints up 2-0 after the top of the first.

After senior Madison Marks retired the Cadets in order in the bottom of the first, she led off the second with a two-strike single to restart the Saints' offense. With two outs, Fernandes stepped up again with a single, driving in Emmanuel's third run.

The two teams remained scoreless until the bottom of the fourth, when the Cadets looked to cut into the Saints' lead. A single and double to open the inning were followed by a base hit from first-year Emily Munson, putting Norwich on the board and cutting the lead to 3-1.

Emmanuel responded quickly, with Marks hitting a triple that scored two and extended the Saints' lead to 5-1. An RBI groundout from sophomore Madeline Parrish added another run, giving the Saints a cushion at 6-1 midway through the fifth. Both teams added a run in the seventh, and Emmanuel closed out the game with a 7-2 victory in the opener.

Marks did it all for the Saints, tossing a complete game with eight strikeouts and just two earned runs, while adding two hits and two RBI at the plate. Fernandes, Chelak, and senior Amanda Penney each contributed two hits in the win. Munson and first-year Adelette Gutierrez each finished 3-for-3 in the loss for the Cadets.

GAME TWO: Norwich 7 – Emmanuel 4
Similar to the first game, the Emmanuel offense took an early lead in the top of the first inning. Pizzarella led off with a double and later scored on a two-out single by Chelak, giving the Saints a 1-0 advantage in the afternoon matchup.
 
Norwich answered in the bottom of the inning, starting with a one-out double from sophomore Madison DeCota. A single followed to score the first run, then senior Rachel Kempf added another Cadets double to bring a second score home and take a 2-1 lead.

A leadoff walk by Penney in the top of the fourth sparked a three-run inning that put the Saints back in front, 4-2. Doubles from senior Christyna Winstead and Fernandes drove in the runs, giving Emmanuel control at the midway point of the game.
 
It was DeCota once again who knotted the game at four in the bottom half of the inning with a double down the left field line. A flyout to left advanced DeCota and a groundout to shortstop followed to give Norwich a narrow 5-4 lead.
 
Despite putting two runners on in the fifth, Emmanuel couldn't add to its total. Norwich responded with two insurance runs in the bottom half, extending the lead to 7-4, which held for the win in the afternoon matchup.
 
Fernandes, Winstead, and first-year Sydney Taylor each recorded two hits, with both of Taylor's going for doubles in the loss. Junior Gwyneth Gagnon made her collegiate debut for the Saints, tossing 1.1 scoreless innings in relief.
 
DeCota led the Cadets' offense with three hits, including two doubles and three RBI, while sophomore Hailey Williams went 3-for-4 from the leadoff spot. Senior Kennedy White was sharp in relief, throwing three no-hit innings to earn the save.

UP NEXT
The Saints head across the city on Wednesday (4/9) for a non-conference doubleheader at Suffolk, with first pitch set for 4:00 PM. Norwich resumes GNAC play on Tuesday (4/8) with a doubleheader at New England College starting at 2:00 PM.