BOSTON, Mass. - The Emmanuel College softball team wrapped up the regular season with a sweep of the Lasell Lasers (12-19, 8-10 Great Northeast Athletic Conference) on Saturday evening at Clemente Field. With the sweep, Emmanuel improved to 14–22 (13-5 GNAC) on the season, picking up back-to-back wins behind clutch late-game performances and a dominant showing from their bullpen.
Lauren Peers (5-6), in particular, was the difference-maker in both contests, combining for four shutout innings and earning both victories.
The Saints also celebrated the career of senior
Emely Rodriguez in her final regular season game at Clemente Field.
Game 1: Emmanuel 5, Lasell 4
Emmanuel rallied from a four-run deficit to claim a walk-off victory over Lasell, 5–4, in the opening game of Saturday's doubleheader at Clemente Field.
Lasell struck first and struck hard in the top of the third, putting up four runs on six hits to take a 4–0 lead, but Emmanuel refused to fold.
The Saints began chipping away in the bottom of the fourth when Alexis Martineau reached on an error and Sydney Taylor scored on the play to make it 4–1.
Then, in the bottom of the fifth, Emmanuel erupted for three runs to tie the game at four. MeKayla Poisson reached to spark the rally, and Mia Fernandes followed with a double. After a pair of walks loaded the bases, Rodriguez delivered the go-ahead hit, a single through the left side that plated two runs and knotted the game.
With the score tied at four entering the sixth, Poisson came through again, doubling to left field and ultimately scoring the decisive run on a wild pitch to give Emmanuel a 5–4 lead.
Peers slammed the door over the final two innings, tossing two scoreless frames and allowing just one baserunner to earn the win and improve to 4–6 on the season. Jessica Voutour got the start and worked five innings, surrendering four earned runs.
Offensively, Poisson went 2-for-4 with two doubles and two runs scored, while Fernandes added a double and a stolen base. Rodriguez drove in two with her clutch fifth-inning single.
Game 2: Emmanuel 11, Lasell 9
Emmanuel completed the doubleheader sweep with a come-from-behind, 11–9 victory in Game 2, erasing a 6–0 deficit with a five-run third inning and then surviving a back-and-forth battle to seal the win in the sixth.
Lasell jumped out to a 6–0 advantage after two innings, capitalizing on several Emmanuel miscues including wild pitches and errors. Emmanuel answered in the bottom of the third with a five-run frame. Olivia DeMacedo was the hero of the inning, delivering a bases-clearing double that scored three and pulled Emmanuel within one at 6–5.
The Saints continued their offensive assault through the middle innings, with Rodriguez drawing two walks and scoring twice and Mia Fernandes posting a spectacular 4-for-4 performance with two RBI. Fernandes was a menace all afternoon, reaching base every at-bat and finishing the day as the catalyst of the Emmanuel offense.
After Lasell reclaimed the lead, Emmanuel sealed the win with a massive five-run sixth inning. Rodriguez and Jacqui Martineau each drove in a run, and with Lasell committing two errors in the frame, the Saints plated five runs to take an 11–9 lead they would not relinquish.
Peers again came on in relief to close things out, tossing 1.2 shutout innings for her second win of the day, improving to 5–6. DeMacedo finished 1-for-3 with a double and three RBI, while Fernandes' four-hit game was the offensive highlight of the doubleheader.
Up Next
The Saints head into GNAC playoff action on a five-game win streak.
