NEW HAVEN, Conn. - The Albertus Magnus College softball team continued to swing the bat as the Falcons plated a combined 19 runs on 21 hits in a non-conference doubleheader sweep against the Trailblazers of MCLA on Saturday afternoon at the Shea Softball Field.
The Falcons took game one by a final score of 6-2 before securing the nightcap in five innings by a score of 13-1. Following today's sweep, the Falcons remain undefeated at home with a mark of 6-0 and are currently on a six-game winning streak.
Seniors Ivy Geloso (Beacon Falls, Conn.) and Kayla Resto (Shelton, Conn.) led the Falcons' attack with four hits apiece in the doubleheader. With today's victories, head coach Ed Emilieta is now one win shy of reaching his 200th career victory after taking over the program in 2011.
THE BASICS
FINAL (G1): Albertus Magnus 6 | MCLA 2
FINAL (G2): Albertus Magnus 13 | MCLA 1 - 5 innings
RECORDS: Albertus Magnus (10-6) | MCLA (0-11)
LOCATION: Shea Softball Field
HOW IT HAPPENED - Game 1
MCLA opened game one by scoring two quick runs in the top of the first behind two hits and an Albertus error to take the early lead until the bottom half of the inning as the Falcons evened the game at 2-2. With one out, Janelle Franklin (Middletown, Conn.) got things started for Albertus by reaching first on an error by the left fielder before finding herself on second following another error by the Trailblazer, while Peyton Davis (North Haven, Conn.) reached first on a fielder's choice. Despite a strikeout from Resto, Albertus managed to load the bases for Angelina Ramada (North Branford, Conn.), who drove in a pair of runs behind an RBI single to right field.
Solid defensive work and pitching from both teams kept the game tied at 2-all until the bottom of the fourth as the Falcons took their first lead of the game, 3-2, behind a two-out, RBI triple from Colleen Edwards (Clinton, Conn.).
An inning later, Albertus struck again by scoring its fourth run of the game as well as doubling its lead, 4-2, following a stolen base from Davis, who started off the stanza with a one-out, hit-by-pitch.
Albertus put the game out of reach for the Trailblazers scoring an additional two runs in the bottom of the six to bring the final score to 6-2. Madison LaBossiere (Griswold, Conn.) kicked off the inning with a single to right, but back-to-back outs threatened the Falcons at-bat. A Geloso single up the middle kept the inning alive for Franklin, who singled up the middle allowing LaBossiere to score. MCLA adjusted its defensive unit with a pitching change to throw off the Falcons, but Davis was not deterred as the centerfielder singled to left field driving in Geloso and placing runners on first and second. However, a groundout to short ended the inning for the Falcons.
Signore threw a perfect three-up, three-down seventh inning for the Falcons to preserve the home victory.
TOP PERFORMERS
- WP: Skylar Arent (5-2) - 4.0 innings | 5 Hits | 2 Run | 3 Strikeouts
- Save: Ema Signore (2) - 3.0 innings | 1 Hit
- LP: Lorra Woyton (1-2) - 5.2 innings | 8 Hits | 6 Runs | 2 Walks | 5 Strikeouts
- Davis led the Falcons at the plate with two hits to go along with two runs scored and an RBI.
- Ramada posted a team-high two RBIs.
- Arent earned her fifth win in the circle.
- Signore earned her second save of the spring campaign.
HOW IT HAPPENED - Game 2
The bats came alive for the Falcons in the bottom of the first as the blue-and-white opened the nightcap with a commanding 8-0 lead, highlighted by a three-run, RBI homer from Geloso, her first of the season. The Falcons also gained RBIs from Ava Gladwin (Guilford, Conn.), Davis, Resto, LaBossiere, and Fatima Rosales (East Elmhurst, N.Y.).
Albertus carried its momentum into the second inning as the Falcons plated five runs off six hits, including four RBIs, to extend their lead to 13-0.
The Trailblazers finally broke through in the top of the third as an RBI single to center field from Mady Tores allowed the runner to score from second, bringing the score to 13-1.
The Falcons held the Trailblazers in check for the final two innings, retiring six straight hitters to secure a 13-1 victory in five innings.
TOP PERFORMERS
- WP: Erin Dighello (5-3) - 5.0 innings | 5 Hits | 1 Run | 1 Walk | 4 Strikeouts
- LP: Sarah Williams (0-5) - 2.0 innings | 11 Hits | 13 Runs | 5 Walks | 1 Home Run
- Geloso finished game two 3-for-3 with a team-high four RBIs and three runs scored.
- Geloso tallied her first home run of the season.
- Resto also finished 3-for-3 with an RBI and two runs scored.
- Gladwin and Rosales each recorded a two-hit game.
UP NEXT
The Falcons return to the diamond on Sunday, March 27 with a home non-conference doubleheader against Curry College. Game times are set for 12 PM and 2 PM at the Shea Softball Field in New Haven, Conn.
