Alyssa Puccilli (Milford, Conn.) went 3-for-4 with two RBI as she registered her 100th career hit as the Albertus Magnus softball team defeated Newbury College 7-4 in 2015 Division III ECAC New England Quarterfinal action in East Haven, Conn.
Today's win marked the 25th of 2015 for the Falcons as they continue to add to their record-breaking season, while it was also their first ECAC Tournament victory.
The Falcons will now play second-seeded Southern Maine at Brandeis on Saturday, May 9 in a noon-time match-up.
Puccilli's 100th hit came in the sixth inning when her RBI single plated the Falcons' seventh run of the day to give Albertus a 7-1 lead.
Albertus used a four-run third inning to strike first. Senior Brittney Urciuoli (Newington, Conn.) led off the inning with a triple, her first of the season, before Gillian Fortier (Naugatuck, Conn.), the GNAC Player and Rookie of the Year, lined a ball over the third baseman to score Urciuoli from third. Melissa Castillo (Taftville, Conn.) and Puccilli both recorded RBI singles in the frame to help the Falcons jump out to the 4-0 lead.
Albertus added two more runs in the fifth inning before Newbury got on the scoreboard in the top of the sixth.
In the bottom of the frame, with two outs and two on, Puccilli notched her 100th career hit, which also gave the Falcons a 7-1 lead.
Newbury loaded the bases with no outs in the top of the seventh. Megan Ferraro (Branford, Conn.) came in for relief for the Falcons, replacing Samantha Maselli (Rockville Centre, N.Y.) who made the start and earned her 16th win of the season as she improved to 16-3 with the win.
Newbury ended up scoring three runs in the inning led by Alyssa Donovan. Donovan finished the game 2-for-4 with three RBI.
Ferraro earned the save in the contest, her second of the year.
Newbury's Olivia Kenyon took the loss, falling to 18-12 on the year. Kenyon allowed seven runs on 13 hits. She struck out six batters.
Maselli allowed four runs, one earned, on seven hits in six innings. She struck out three batters. Ferraro gave up just one hit.
Both Amanda Jessey (East Haven, Conn.) and Carli Matrisian (Milford, Conn.) had two hits apiece, while Castillo finished the game with two hits, two RBI and one run scored. Brianna Spadacenta (East Haven, Conn.) went 1-for-1 with a pinch-hit double that plated two runners.
Quarterfinals – Wednesday, May 6, 2015
No. 1 Brandeis University (17-14) – First Round bye
No. 2 University of Southern Maine (23-18) – First Round bye
No. 3 Albertus Magnus College 7 vs. No. 6 Newbury College 4
No. 4 Suffolk University 3 vs. No. 5 Becker College 2
Semifinals – Saturday, May 9, 2015 at Brandeis University
Game # 1 - No. 1 Brandeis vs. winner of No. 4 Suffolk (25-14)- 10:00 am
Game # 2 - No. 2 Southern Maine vs. winner of No. 3 Albertus Magnus (25-13) 12:00 pm
Game # 3 - Loser of game 1 vs. loser of game 2 – 2:00 pm
Game # 4 - Winner of game 1 vs. winner of game 2 – 4:00 pm
Championship – Sunday, May 10, 2015 at Brandeis University
Game # 5 - Loser of game 4 vs. winner of game 3 – 11:00 am
Game # 6 - Winner of game 4 vs. winner of game 5 – 1:00 pm
Game # 7 - Winner of game 6 vs. loser of game 6 (if necessary) – 3:00 pm
**Double Elimination Format
