The second-seeded Albertus Magnus softball team defeated Emmanuel College 8-6 on Friday night in Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Tournament play at West Haven High School. The Falcons will now face fifth-seeded Johnson & Wales (R.I.) on Saturday in a 2:30 p.m. contest at American Legion Park in East Boston, Mass.
Albertus improved to 23-11 on the year with the win, tying the program's single-season wins record from 2002. In the Falcons' 11th appearance in the GNAC Tournament, the Falcons are now 8-12 all-time in tournament action and are now 1-1 against Emmanuel in postseason play all-time.
Albertus jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the second inning when an error and then a bases loaded walk gave the Falcons the early edge.
Emmanuel scored its first run of the game in the top of the third thanks to an RBI double by Catherine Davis.
In the fourth inning, the Falcons scored three runs on two hits and two Emmanuel errors. Rachel Cataudella (Shelton, Conn.) registered an RBI single in the frame to give Albertus a 5-1 lead. Albertus pushed out to a 7-1 lead with two runs in the fifth thanks to RBIs from Kirsten McGinty (East Lyme, Conn.) and Brittney Urciuoli (Newington, Conn.).
After getting the first out quickly in the fifth inning, Albertus got into some trouble. Kerrianne Vulpis singled to center for Emmanuel before move into scoring position on an Abbey Alexiades walk.
Another walk issued to Susie Kieselback loaded the bases before an Erin Walsh RBI since to right field. Brooke Ames capitalized on the opportunity for the Saints, hitting a grand slam over the center field wall to cut Albertus' lead to one at 7-6.
Megan Ferraro (Branford, Conn.) came in for relief for Samatha Maselli (Rockville Centre, N.Y.) in the frame and retired the first two batters she faced.
Albertus got one run back from Emmanuel in the sixth on a Melissa Castillo (Taftville, Conn.) single.
Maselli earned the win to improve to 14-3 as she threw 5.1 innings, while allowing five hits and three walks, while striking out one. Ferraro earned the save as she allowed two hits and no runs.
Samantha Adams took the loss to fall to 4-9 on the year. She allowed two earned runs and six hits.
