FINAL SCORE: Albertus Magnus 9 | Simmons 0
TEAM RECORDS: Albertus Magnus (28-13) | Simmons (15-24)
WINNING PITCHER: Laura Anderson (12-4) - 5 IP | 5 H | 4 SO
LOSING PITCHER: Tori Gomes (4-12) - 1.1 IP | 5 H | 3 R | 1 BB | 1 SO | 1 HR
Providence, R.I. - The Albertus Magnus College softball team advances to the next game of the Great Northeast Athletic Conference Tournament as the Falcons defeated eighth-seeded Simmons College, 9-0, on Thursday evening at the Scotts Miracle-Gro Athletic Complex. The fourth-seeded Falconss will now face top-seeded Johnson & Wales at 5:30 p.m.
Also, following today's win over the Sharks, the softball team set a new program record of 28 wins. The most wins set by the program was 27 in 2015.
HOW IT HAPPENED
(B) 1 INNING - Freshman Laura Anderson (East Haven, Conn.) got the Falcons on the board first after hitting a one-out shot over the left field fence for her third home run of the season. Shortly after, the Falcons put runners on first and second, but a pop up by Rachel Cataudella (Shelton, Conn.) would end the inning, leaving Melissa Castillo (Taftville, Conn. and Daysia Wehder (Queens, N.Y.) on base.
(B) 2 INNING - Albertus Magnus extended its lead to 3-0 in the bottom of the second as Gillian Fortier (Naugatuck, Conn.) and Brianna Whitfield (West islip, N.Y.) hit back-to-back RBI singles to send home Morgan Shura (East Haven, Conn.) and Megan Kelly (Bronx. N.Y.), after both reaching first on a single.
(B) 4 INNING - Whitfield pushed the visitors' lead to 4-0 in the bottom of the fourth following an RBI single to left field, allowing Kelly to score after she led off the inning with a single. Two batters later and with two outs on the board, Wehder would clear the bases with a two-run RBI single to left field to give the Falcons the 6-0 lead.
(B) 5 INNING - An inning later, Whitfield would strike again for Albertus, this time recording a three-run homer to left field, securing the 9-0 win over the Sharks. With that home-run, Whitfield now has two home runs on the year.
INSIDE THE STATS
- The Falcons finished the game 11 hits, nine RBI, two walks and four strikeouts.
- Laura Del Vacchio led the Sharks offensive with a team-high two hits while three different playes tallied a hit a piece.
- Following today's win, Anderson recorded her sixth shut out of the season.
- Kelly recorded an impressive showing at the plate as the senior went 3-for-3 with three runs scored.
- Whitfield collected a team-high five RBI, inlcuding a three-run homer in the bottom of the fifth.
GNAC TOURNAMENT
First Round - Tuesday, May 2 (single elimination)
Game 1: #8 Simmons 6, #5 St. Joseph (Conn.) 4 | BOX
Game 2: #6 Norwich 7, #7 Emmanuel 2 | BOX
Second Round - Thursday, May 4 (double-elim begins)
Game 3: #4 Albertus Magnus 4, #8 Simmons 0 | BOX
Game 4: #3 Suffolk 4,
Game 5: #4 Albertus Magnus at #1 JWU - 5:30 PM
Game 6: #3 Suffolk at #2 Saint Joseph's Maine - 5:30 PM
Semifinals - Saturday, May 6 (hosted by #1 JWU)
Game 7: Game 4 loser vs. Game 5 loser (elim game) - 10:00 AM
Game 8: Game 3 loser vs. Game 6 loser (elim game) - 12:30 PM
Game 9: Game 5 winner vs. Game 6 winner - 3:00 PM
Game 10: Game 7 winner vs. Game 8 winner (elim game) - 5:30 PM
Championship - Sunday, May 7 (hosted by #1 JWU)
Game 11: Game 9 loser vs. Game 10 winner (elim game) - 10:00 AM
Game 12: Game 11 winner vs. Game 9 winner - 12:30 PM
Game 13: if necessary - 3:00 PM