BOSTON – A five-run fifth inning from the Saints provided all the offense Emmanuel softball required, as the Saints advance in the winner's bracket of Pod B with a 5-2 win over the Simmons Sharks on Thursday evening at Clemente Field.

Pod B, consisting of Johnson & Wales, Emmanuel, Simmons, and Regis, opened Pod B play this afternoon, with the Wildcats and Saints advancing in the winner's bracket, while the Sharks and Pride will open Saturday's play with in elimination game, hosted by the top-seed in Pod B, Johnson & Wales. Emmanuel's win tonight moves them to 15-22, as the loss for the Sharks drops them to 18-21.

Simmons was first on the board in the top of the first. After a single and a Saints error to open the game, a two-out RBI single by junior Ally Hyde scored fellow junior Emily Deleault from third to give the Sharks a 1-0 lead.

Emmanuel had chances to score in the first and fourth, but left two runners on in both innings, as the Sharks held their 1-0 lead. The Saints had runners on the corners with two outs in the first and two runners in scoring position with one out in the fourth, but were unable to convert on either occasion.

The home side finally broke through in the fifth, posting five runs in the bottom of the inning. A pair of infield singles and a walk loaded the bases with one out when senior Madison Marks stepped in. Marks lifted a ball into right field, looking like a sacrifice fly that would tie the game, but a misplay in the Sharks outfield saw the ball go over the head of the outfielder, roll to the wall, and score two runs, giving the Saints the lead.

Two batters later, an RBI single by sophomore MeKayla Poisson added to the Saints advantage. After Poission stole second to put two runners in scoring position, first-year Molly Carnes capped off the five-run fifth with a two-run single to right, ending the rally for a 5-1 Saints lead.

Meanwhile, in the Saints pitching circle, Marks was stellar after allowing the early run, surrendering just one hit and retiring 11 consecutive batters through the middle innings. Simmons would break the string of consecutive outs with a solo home run in the sixth by first-year Zoe Soule, cutting the deficit to 5-2.

After allowing a lead-off walk in the seventh, Marks closed the door on the Sharks, retiring the next three hitters, finishing off a complete game and a 5-2 Emmanuel win.

Poisson finished 3-for-3 with a trio of singles, while adding one RBI, one run scored, and three stolen bases. Sophomore Mia Fernandes went 2-for-4, including a lead-off double in the first. Marks pitched a full seven innings, allowing two runs, one earned, on four hits, while improving to 9-10 this season.

Soule had the Sharks only extra base hit with her sixth-inning solo homer, her fourth home run of the year. Deleault went 1-for-3 with a single and run scored. Junior pitcher Piper Kinney went 1-for-2 at the plate and pitched six innings, allowing five runs, all unearned, to go with nine hits and 13 strikeouts. Kinney drops to 12-10 with the loss and 0-2 against the Saints this season.

Pod B continues on Saturday with the Sharks in an elimination game against Regis at 12:00 p.m. at Johnson & Wales. The Saints press on with the winner's bracket game at 3:00 p.m. against JWU. The winner of Sharks and Pride will meet the loser of Wildcats and Saints at 6:00 p.m. in an elimination game.