BOSTON, Mass. In a doubleheader against the Newbury College Nighthawks, Emerson Women's Softball (8-8) won both games with final scores of 11-10 and 11-8. The Lions rise to 8-8 overall, while the Nighthawks fall to 7-6 overall.

The first game was a back and forth battle between the two teams, with the Lions barely sneaking away with a 11-10 victory. The second game saw the Lions fall behind to a 6-0 deficit, before coming back to win the game 11-8.

The Nighthawks couldn't get a run on the board in the first inning of game one, but Lions second baseman Caroline Fortuna scored on a double-steal with shortstop Alena Jones stealing second base to give the Lions a 1-0 lead.

After no scoring in the second inning, the Nighthawks had a big third inning scoring three runs. The first came on an RBI single from shortstop Alyssa Donovan with right fielder Tory Hoemke scoring. Then, with the bases loaded, Lions pitcher Samantha Corey walked catcher Noelle Sass, which allowed center fielder Sheri Liggiero to give the Newbury a 2-1 lead. Two batters later, with the bases still loaded, first baseman Liz Kia walked, which made third baseman Lindsey Clark give the Nighthawks a two run advantage.

In the bottom of the third, with the bases loaded, Nighthawks pitcher Alina Milauskas, hit Alena Jones with a pitch, scoring right fielder Amanda Horton which cut the lead to one. Then catcher, Kallista Leonardos, hit a monster grand slam home run to give the Lions a 6-3 lead.

Alyssa Donovan responded to the Kallista Leonardos dinger in the fourth inning scoring Sheri Liggiero on a two run home run, to close the gap with the Lions. But, in the bottom of the fourth, the Lions added to their lead with Amanda Horton scoring on an RBI double from center fielder Jackie DeFusco to make the score 7-5. Then, Leonardos added to her impressive RBI total with hitting a two run double, scoring Caroline Fortuna and DeFusco, making it 9-5 Lions after four innings.

In the bottom of the fifth, Lions left fielder Shelby Carney scored on error giving the Lions a five run lead, and in the sixth inning Leonardos hit her second homer of the game with a solo shot, which allowed the Lions to hold their lead, winning 11-10.

Stat leaders for Newbury include, Alyssa Donovan who had six RBI on four hits including one home run. Sheri Liggiero lead the team in runs scored with four. Alina Milauskas (6-4) allowed 11 runs on eight hits, while walking three and allowing two home runs in six innings pitched.

Stat leaders for Emerson include, Kallista Leonardos who had seven RBI on three hits, two of them home runs, who in 16 games played has six home runs and 21 RBI, while batting .362. Caroline Fortuna lead the team in runs scored with three. Samantha Corey improved to 5-3 on the year, striking out 12, while allowing six earned runs, including one home run on eight hits, and walking eight.

In game two it looked like it was going to be a long night for the Lions as Alyssa Donovan hit a RBI single, scoring Sheri Liggiero which made it 1-0 Nighthawks. Then, catcher Emily Humphries hit a two RBI single, making it 3-0 Newbury. Still in the first inning, Lions pitcher Kodie Cash walked Tory Hoemke while the bases were loaded, which scored Liz Kia to make it 4-0. Then Liggiero hit a two RBI single to give the Nighthawks a 6-0 advantage.

After better defense in the second inning, the Lions started to cut the immense Nighthawks lead with first baseman Jillian Gearin scoring Kodie Cash on a RBI single and then Amanda Horton followed up with a single of her own scoring third baseman Allie Martinez, to cut the Newbury advantage from six to four.

The Lions followed a good second inning with an even better third inning. The rally started when pitcher Alina Milauskas had the bases loaded and hit fellow pitcher Kodie Cash with a pitch, scoring Alena Jones, making it 6-3 Nighthawks. With the bases still loaded, Allie Martinez hit a two RBI double scoring Kallista Leonardos and right fielder Katie Hill to make cut the lead to one. Then, Jillian Gearin hit a RBI single to tie up the game, and then on an error she scored to take the lead 7-6.

In the top of the fourth inning, the Lions lost their lead when an error allowed Liz Kia to reach first base which scored Alina Milauskas and Noelle Sass, giving Newbury a 8-7 lead. But the Lions responded with Kodie Cash hitting a RBI single scoring Alena Jones to tie the game, then Amanda Horton was hit by a pitch while the bases were loaded, scoring Cash which allowed the Lions to take back the lead.

Then, in the sixth inning Kodie Cash added to her solid day, hitting a two RBI double, in the 11-8 Lions come from behind win.

Stat leaders for Newbury include, Sheri Liggiero who had two RBI on two hits, and Alina Milauskas (6-5) scored two runs while allowing nine runs on ten hits, while walking seven in six innings.

Stat leaders for Emerson include, Kodie Cash (1-2) who had four RBI on two hits, while allowing eleven hits, allowing six runs and walking one.

Newbury College will have its next games on March 31, when they face Curry College in a doubleheader in Milton, Mass. at 3:00 p.m.

The Lions return to action at home Saturday in a doubleheader against Wellesley College starting at 12:00 p.m.