NEW HAVEN, Conn. - The Albertus Magnus College softball team recorded another impressive showing at the Shea Softball Field as the Falcons extended their winning streak to 10 straight games and smacked across 32 hits in today's non-conference doubleheader sweep against Eastern Nazarene College.

Junior Karissa Kerrs (Wappingers Falls, N.Y.) led the Falcons on offense with six hits, one run scored, and two RBI's in the doubleheader. Along with Kerrs, Peyton Davis (North Haven, Conn.) and Janelle Franklin (Middletown, Conn.) both had spectacular days at the dish, as the duo combined for a whopping 10 hits, garnering five apiece, to go along with a combined four runs scored and three RBIs.    

The Falcons' winning streak of 10 games is the longest under Coach Ed Emielita. The streak is also the longest winning streak of the last 20 years, being bested only by the 11-game winning streak of the 2002 Falcons softball squad.   

THE BASICS
FINAL (G1): Albertus Magnus 12 | Eastern Nazarene 4 - 6 innings
FINAL (G2): Albertus Magnus 7 | Eastern Nazarene 0 
RECORDS: Albertus Magnus (14-6) | Eastern Nazarene (3-11)
LOCATION: Shea Softball Field

HOW IT HAPPENED - Game 1

After allowing a run in the top of the first inning, the Falcons bounced back with four runs in the bottom of the inning to build a 4-1 lead. Following a double by Ava Gladwin (Guilford, Conn.) that put runners on second and third with no outs, Kayla Resto (Shelton, Conn.) plated Geloso from third with an RBI single to right-center. Gladwin later scored, while Resto advanced to second after a throwing error by the opposing catcher. Davis singled to center and plated Resto before getting to second on a fielding error by the centerfielder. The final run of the frame came when Madison LaBossiere (Griswold, Conn.) singled to center to score Davis from second. 

Albertus added to its advantage in the second inning, putting four more runs on the board to go-ahead 8-0. The first run came with runners on the corners when Kerrs stole home on a double-steal attempt. With the defense concentrating on Geloso going for second, Kerrs broke for home and easily scored. LaBossiere plated the next run, sending an infield single to the shortstop with the bases loaded. Jess Stettinger (East Haven, Conn.) capped the frame with a two-RBI single to right that allowed Davis and Gladwin to score. 

After allowing three runs in the top of the third, the Falcons bounced back to hang two runs on the board in the bottom of the fourth to take a 10-4 lead. With Davis and LaBossiere on after back-to-back singles to begin the frame, Angelina Ramada (North Branford, Conn.) brought across Davis with a sac-bunt to the third baseman. A bunt single to the pitcher by Franklin brought in the next run to make it a 10-4 game. 

After both teams went scoreless in the fifth, Albertus put the contest away in the sixth with two more runs to make it a 12-4 home victory. With two outs, Kerrs capped off her outstanding game with an RBI triple to left-center to plate Stettinger. Geloso forced the end of the game in the sixth with a double to left-center to bring Stettinger home.

TOP PERFORMERS

• WP: Erin Dighello (8-3) - 5.0 innings | 3 ER | 6 Hits | 2 Walks | 2 Strikeouts
• LP: Jennelle Munoz (2-7) - 5.2 innings | 20 Hits | 12 Runs | 1 Walk | 4 Strikeouts 
• Peyton Davis: 4-for-4 | 3 R | 1 RBI 
• Karissa Kerrs: 4-for-4 | 2 R | 1 RBI | 1 3B  
• Madison LaBossiere: 3-for-4 | 1 R | 2 RBI  
• Jess Stettinger: 2-for-4 | 1 R | 2 RBI | 1 2B 

HOW IT HAPPENED - Game 2

Skylar Arent (New Fairfield, Conn.) cruised through the first 2.0 innings of game two, retiring the first five batters she faced before a fielding error allowed the first baserunner. However, Arent did not let the runner deter her, sitting down the next batter with a pop-up to end the frame. 

In the home half of the second, Albertus broke onto the scoreboard first with a pair of runs. With two on and two outs, Breanna Saldivar (Middletown, Conn.) tallied her first hit of the day with a two-RBI single to center that plated Colleen Edwards (Clinton, Conn.) and Resto. A walk by the next batter allowed Franklin to bring across Saldivar from second on a single to right field. 

After another 1-2-3 inning, the Falcons widened its lead with one more run in the third to make it a 4-0 game. With bases loaded and no outs, Edwards sent a sacrifice fly to deep left field to bring Davis home. Unfortunately for the Falcons, Eastern Naz retired the next two batters to end the threat. 

Two consecutive hits by the Lions broke up Arent's no-hit bid in the top of the fourth, but the freshman lefty held strong by getting out of the inning with no runs allowed. Arent worked two strikeouts, one with the bases loaded and two outs. 

Albertus put the finishing touches on game two's victory with three more runs in the bottom of the fifth to settle a 7-0 home victory. With two on after two singles, Franklin drove a bunt into the ground right in front of home plate. The catcher hustled to corral the ball and tossed it over the first baseman's head and into the right corner before the right fielder overthrew a cutoff player, which allowed all three runs to score. 

The Falcons' pitching continued to cruise in the sixth and seventh innings, as Ema Signore (Guilford, Conn.) entered in the sixth and allowed just one hit in relief. 

TOP PERFORMERS

• WP: Skylar Arent (W, 6-2) - 5.0 innings | 3 Hits | 0 Runs | 1 Walk | 4 Strikeouts
• LP: Chelsea DeMartini (L, 1-4) - 6.0 innings | 12 Hits | 7 Runs | 4 Walks | 1 Strikeout
• Janelle Franklin: 3-for-4 | 1 R | 1 RBI 
• Erin Molkenthin: 3-for-4 
• Karissa Kerrs: 2-for-3 | 1 R | 1 BB 
• Breanna Saldivar: 2-for-3 | 2 R | 2 RBI  

NOTEWORTHY 

• The Falcons set a season-high in hits in the opener with 20. 
• Geloso extended her hitting streak to eight straight games 
• Kerrs picked up her fourth multi-hit game of the season 
• Signore has made six straight appearances in the circle without allowing a run. 
• Gladwin is batting .461 (6-for-13) with a double, five runs scored, and an RBI over her last four games.

UP NEXT
The Falcons will travel to Franklin, Mass. on Saturday, April 2nd for a Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) doubleheader match-up with the Bulldogs of Dean College. Game one is slated for a 1 PM start, while game two will begin at 3 PM.