THE BASICS

Game 1: WPI 6; Emerson 5

Game 2: WPI 7, Emerson 6

Game 1 Pitching Decision: W – Sophia Togneri (2-4) L- Jessica Gomez (7-7)

Game 2 Pitching Decision: W – Shaina Lazarus (3-3) L- Karagan Knowles (2-4) SV: Katie Martin (1)

Location: Worcester, MA (Rooftop Field)

Date: April 16, 2022

The Lead: The Emerson softball team dropped two tightly contested games to WPI on Saturday afternoon. Game 1 saw WPI come from 3 runs down in the bottom of the 7^th inning to win while a back-and-forth game 2 ultimately saw WPI sneak away with another victory.

GAME ONE: WPI 6, Emerson 5

INSIDE THE NUMBERS 

EMERSON LEADERS

Calli Pratt: 3 for 4 with 2 RBI and 1 run scored

Lexi Semanchik: 1 for 3 with 1 RBI

Claire Overton: 3 for 4 with 1 RBI

WPI LEADERS

Kelly Pritchard: 2 for 4 with 2 RBI and 1 run scored (2-run homerun)

Alicia Salvalzo: 1 for 3 with 1 RBI and 1 run scored

Kallie Chase: 3 for 4 with 1 RBI

HOW IT HAPPENED 

• The Lions offense wasted no time as Senior Callie Pratt led off the game with a single to left field. After a successful sacrifice bunt by Senior Lexi Semanchik advanced Pratt into scoring position, Sophomore Claire Overton singled to right-center, plating Pratt and giving Emerson a 1-0 lead.
• Emerson struck again in the top of the 4^th inning. With 2 outs, Senior Mallory Shofi singled through the right side, loading the bases for the Lions. Pratt the singled up the middle, plating 2 runners, followed by a single from Semanchik, plating another runner for Emerson and extending their lead to 4-0 halfway through the 4^th inning.
• WPI answered in the home half of the 4^th inning when Kelly Pritchard drove a 2-run homerun over the left field fence; cutting Emerson's lead in half to 4-2.
• Emerson immediately got one of those run back in the top of the 5^th inning when Senior Mary Kuczkowski drove in Sam Zannotti with a sacrifice fly. The Lions led 5-2 after 5 innings
• Facing a 3-run deficit heading into the bottom of the 7^th inning, WPI began the inning with back-to-back doubles, pushing a run across. An error by the Lions allowed WPI to score another run. With 1 out in the inning and Emerson holding on to a 1 run lead, Jocelyn Diaz singled in the tying run for WPI.
• With 2 outs in the inning and the game tied at 5-5, WPI was still. threatening with runners at 1^st and 3^rd. Kallie Chase stepped up to bat and singled to left center, scoring the winning run on a walk-off victory for WPI in game 1 with a final score of 6-5.

GAME TWO: WPI 7, Emerson 6

INSIDE THE NUMBERS 

EMERSON LEADERS

Claire Overton: 2 for 3 with 3 RBI and 2 runs scored (3-run homerun)

Lexi Semanchik: 2 for 4 with 2 RBI and 1 run scored

WPI LEADERS

Alicia Salvalzo: 3 for 4 with 2 RBI and 1 run scored

Stephanie Bishop 1 for 3 with 2 RBI and 1 run scored (2-run homerun)

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Lions begin game 2 with back-to-back singles from Callie Pratt and Lexi Semanchik. With 1 out in the inning, Sophomore Claire Overton homered to left-center; giving the Lions an early 3-0 lead.
• WPI was quick to respond as a leadoff walk, followed by a bunt single set the Engineers up to score a run on a single from Alicia Salvalzo. The next batter, Shaina Lazarus singled up the middle, plating 2 more Engineers and tying the game at 3-3. WPI scored 1 more run in the inning on an error by Emerson, giving them a 4-3 lead after 1 inning.
• The Lions wasted no time in regaining the lead when they came to bat in the top of the 2^nd inning. With 2 outs and 2 runners on for Semanchik, she roped a ball down the rightfield line, resulting in a 2 RBI triple and putting the Lions back on top 5-4. The Lions also tacked on another run in the top the 3^rd inning, extending their lead to 6-4 through 2 and a half innings.
• With 1 out and 1 runner aboard in the bottom of the 3^rd inning, WPI's Stephanie Bishop homered to left field; tying the game at 6-6. The next batter, Sydney Russell walked and stole 2^nd before Salvalzo singled to right field, driving in Russell and reclaiming the lead for the Engineers.
• WPI would threaten again in the bottom of the 4^th inning, loading the bases with 2 outs, but the Lions were able to escape without giving up a run.
• Unfortunately for the Lions, their bats were silenced in innings 4 through 7. Emerson would only have 2 runners in scoring position in that time and were unable to retake the lead from WPI. The Engineers escaped with 2 narrow victories on the day and completed the 2-game sweep.
  
  

UP NEXT

The Lions head to Clark on Friday, April 22 for a NEWMAC battle against the Cougars. First pitch is scheduled for 3pm.