NEW HAVEN, Conn. - The Albertus Magnus College softball team improved to 22-6 overall, and 8-0 in Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) play, sweeping the Blazers of Elms College on Tuesday afternoon at the Shea Softball Field. With today's sweep, the Falcons remain undefeated at home with a mark of 16-0 as well as keep their winning streak alive with 18 games. 

Albertus held off the Blazers in the opener, 3-1, before earning its ninth shutout of the season in the nightcap, 10-0. 

Ivy Geloso (Beacon Falls, Conn.) led the Falcons on offense with four hits, including two doubles and a triple, four runs scored, and three RBIs in the doubleheader. Along with Geloso, Janelle Franklin (Middletown, Conn.) had a spectacular day at the plate recording three hits over five at-bats to go along with two runs scored and an RBI. Jess Stettinger (East Haven, Conn.) also had a day for the Falcons tallying a team-leading three RBIs behind a two-hit performance.

THE BASICS
FINAL (G1): Albertus Magnus 3 | Elms College 1
FINAL (G2): Albertus Magnus 10 | Elms College 0 - 5 innings
RECORDS: Albertus Magnus (22-6, 8-0 GNAC) | Elms College (7-13, 2-8 GNAC)
LOCATION: Shea Softball Field

HOW IT HAPPENED - Game 1

Albertus opened the scoring in the bottom of the first as the Falcons scored one run off two hits to take the early 1-0 lead. Geloso kicked off the inning with a triple to left-center before Franklin put runners on the corners following a bunt single. A pop-up to third gave the hosts their first out of the inning before an RBI groundout from Stettinger allowed Geloso to score and Franklin to go to third. However, a fly-out to center field from Angelina Ramada (North Branford, Conn.) ended the inning and stranded the solo runner on third.

An inning later, Elms countered the Falcons' run in the first with a run in the top of the third, behind an RBI single to center field, evening the game at 1-1. 

The tie game didn't last long as Stettingers gave the blue-and-white a one-run cushion, 2-1, following a two-out, RBI double to right field that allowed Geloso to score from first, after the designated player led off the inning with a double to left-center. 

The Falcons managed to score an additional run in the bottom of the fifth, increasing the lead to 3-1, as Peyton Davis (North Haven, Conn.) capitalized on a scoring opportunity on an error by the shortstop. 

Solid pitching from Erin Dighello (Wallingford, Conn.) and defensive work from the Falcons kept the Blazers at bay for the remaining two innings securing the game one victory and keeping the streak alive. 

TOP PERFORMERS

• WP: Erin Dighello (W, 12-3) - 7.0 innings | 9 Hits | 1 Run | 1 Walk | 8 Strikeouts
• LP: Jayden Dow (L, 5-6) - 6.0 innings | 10 Hits | 3 Runs | 1 Walk | 1 Strikeout
• Dighello tied her season-high in strikeouts with eight.
• Geloso and Franklin led the Falcons in game one with two hits each, while Geloso tallied two runs scored.
• Stettinger posted a team-leading two RBIs for the Falcons.

HOW IT HAPPENED - Game 2

Albertus jumped out an early 2-0 lead behind a two-run inning that saw Davis hit an RBI single down the left-field line and an RBI sacrifice fly from Skylar Arent (New Fairfield, Conn.).

An inning later, Albertus recorded another strong performance at the plate, tallying four runs off three hits to take a commanding 6-0 lead heading into the third. A pop-up to short started off the frame, but the Falcons rallied by loading the bases for Geloso, who kept her hitting streak going with a single to the left side driving in Karissa Kerrs (Wappingers Falls, N.Y.) from third. Another walk loaded the bases for Davis, who worked a walk for an RBI. Stettinger brought in the next run on a single before Arent ended the frame's scoring with a bases-loaded walk. 

After another 1-2-3 inning in the top of the third, the Falcons added an insurance run in the home half of the inning on a Franklin single to center field. A two-base error by the opposing second baseman allowed Breanna Saldivar (Middletown, Conn.) to get to second before Franklin drove her home to make it a 7-0 Albertus advantage. 

The lone base runner of the game for Elms came in the top of the fourth, as a Courtney Schwark single broke up a perfect game for AMC. However, allowing a baserunner did not deter the Falcons, as they answered with three runs in the bottom of the fourth to take a commanding 10-0 lead. Kayla Resto (Shelton, Conn.) opened the frame's scoring with a solo home run to left field, while the final two runs came on a bases-loaded double by Geloso that plated Colleen Edwards (Clinton, Conn.) and Erin Molkenthin (East Haddam, Conn.). 

Ema Signore (Guilford, Conn.) came in, in the top of the fifth inning, and slammed the door shut on the Blazers with a three-up, three-down frame. 

TOP PERFORMERS

• WP: Skylar Arent (W, 8-2 ) - 4.0 Innings | 4 Hits | 1 Run | 1 Walk | 1 Strikeout
• LP:  Kate McGrath (L, 2-5) - 4.0 innings | 9 Hits | 7 Runs | 3 Walk2 | 3 Strikeouts 
• Geloso paced the Falcons with two hits, three RBIs, and two runs scored. 
• Arent struck out three batters and allowed just one hit over 4.0 innings pitched. 
• Signore pitched a scoreless fifth inning, striking out one while not allowing a hit. 

NOTEWORTHY

• Today's doubleheader marked just the second and third all-time meetings between the Falcons and Blazers. 
• With the win, Albertus retains its perfect record against Elms, 3-0. 
• Resto's home run is the second of her career. 
• Geloso has recorded multiple hits in five consecutive games. 
• Albertus now has four conference shutouts on the season. 
• Stettinger and Geloso finished the doubleheader with a team-leading three RBIs.
• The Falcons' bullpen allowed only one walk over 12.0 innings pitched. 

UP NEXT
Albertus returns to the diamond on Saturday, April 16th with a road conference doubleheader against the Lasers of Lasell University in Newton, Mass. Game times are set for 12:00 PM and 2:00 PM.