BOSTON, Mass. - The Emmanuel College Saints celebrated a dominant day of softball at Clemente Field on Saturday, sweeping the New England College Pilgrims in a doubleheader by scores of 11-8 and 15-12, rallying in the final inning in both games.

Game One: Emmanuel 11, New England College 8

The Saints wasted no time setting the tone in the opener, erupting for three runs in the bottom of the first inning. Mia Fernandes got things started with a solo home run to left center, and two batters later, Grace Garon launched a two-run shot to center field, staking Emmanuel to an early 3-0 lead.

Lauren Peers held New England College scoreless through the first three innings before Carmen Crockett took over in the fourth. The Pilgrims began to chip away in the fifth, pulling even at 4-4 on a two-run homer by Ashleigh Lemay and an RBI double from Emma Lopez. But Emmanuel answered immediately. Alexis Martineau delivered a clutch pinch-hit RBI single in the bottom of the fifth, and Rylee Smith's RBI double in the sixth pushed the lead back to two.

The Saints sealed the win with a dominant seventh inning. Down 8-7 in the bottom of the seventh, Sydney Taylor crushed a grand slam to right field, her first homer of the day, capping a five-run frame and giving Emmanuel the 11-8 final. 

Fernandes, Garon, and Taylor each homered in the win. MeKayla Poisson earned the save, retiring two of the three batters she faced in relief. Peers (2-5) picked up the victory.

Game Two: Emmanuel 15, New England College 12

Game two was an offensive showcase, with Emmanuel rallying in a pair of massive innings to pull away for the 15-12 win.

New England College jumped ahead early, scoring three in the third, and building an 11-0 advantage heading into the bottom of the fifth inning. But the Saints weren't fazed. Emmanuel erupted for ten runs in the bottom of the fifth — the big blow a grand slam by Rylee Smith —  to pull within one at 11-10. Fernandes added a two-run double and Pizzarella followed with an RBI triple as the Saints kept the pressure on before Poisson drew a bases-loaded walk to tie the game at 10 apiece before the inning was done.

After the Pilgrims scored once more in the sixth to lead 12-10, Emmanuel again answered emphatically. Fernandes knocked home two with a single, Pizzarella launched a two-run homer to center, and Poisson capped the five-run sixth with an RBI fielder's choice to give the Saints a 15-12 lead they would not relinquish.

Peers (2-3) earned the win after allowing just one earned run over 4.1 innings of work. Fernandes went 2-for-5 with four RBI and Pizzarella posted a remarkable performance — going 2-for-4 with a triple, a home run, three RBI, and a stolen base. 

Up Next
The Saints set off for another GNAC doubleheader tomorrow afternoon, traveling to Standish, Maine for two games at Saint Joseph's College at 12:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m.