BOSTON, Mass. (March 29, 2026) – Emerson College earned a hard-fought split with Massachusetts Institute of Technology, receiving a vote in the most recent National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Division III poll, in a New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) softball doubleheader at Lester Rotch Field this afternoon.

Emerson answered a late MIT rally from three runs down that forced extra innings with four in the top of the eighth and held off a second Engineers rally for a 7-5 win in eight innings in game one. MIT responded with a 6-1 win in game two.

Sheehan allowed just an earned run with six strikeouts in the complete game win (PHOTO BY Andrew Monson)

Game 1: Emerson 7, MIT 5 (8-innings)

Emerson battled back after MIT rallied to force extra innings to secure the game one win as sophomore Avi Kuperman delivered an RBI double and classmates Kari Sorensen and Riley Fasteau added RBI singles to gain some breathing room in the top of the eighth inning. First year Valentina Luciano capped the Lions scoring by drawing a bases loaded walk.

Junior Cal Sheehan outdueled MIT sophomore Sarah Blackett to earn the win (3-5) in the circle for Emerson. Sheehan allowed just one earned run, five total, scattering six hits and four walks while striking out six over eight innings. Blackett struck out 15 batters over her 7.2 innings of work, but yielded seven runs, six earned, seven hits and seven walks.

Kuperman finished 1-for-4 at the plate for Emerson with the double, RBI and run scored, while Sorensen was 2-for-2 with an RBI and run scored. First year Malena Cardinale batted 1-for-2 with a pair of walks and an RBI for the Lions, while Fasteau went 1-for-3 with an RBI and run scored.

First year Holland Poe (Tampa, Florida/Berkeley Preparatory School) scored two runs for MIT without benefit of a hit in the game. Senior Olivia Scarpaci (Staten Island, New York/Xaverian) and sophomore Layla Thiessen (Carlsbad, California/La Costa Canyon) each drove in runs for the Engineers.

Emerson grabbed a three-run lead in the top of the second as Sorensen and Sheehan both singled and then loaded the bases when first year Aislinn McCoy walked. Cardinale drove in the first run for the Lions when she was hit by a Blackett pitch and then Luciano drew a bases loaded walk and then a third scored without benefit of a hit as junior Riley Caiazza was also hit by a pitch.

Sheehan held MIT at bay until the Engineers were able to pull even in the bottom of the sixth, taking advantage of three Emerson errors to plate three unearned runs. Scarpaci had the lone hit of the inning for MIT with a game-tying RBI infield single.

Game 2: MIT 6, Emerson 1

MIT bounced back with a 6-1 win in the nightcap to take a split in the doubleheader. First year Emily Watson held Emerson to just an earned run on two hits to earn the win (4-0) in the circle for the Engineers, striking out three and walking one.

Layla Thiessen hit 2-for-3 with a double, four stolen bases and a run scored for MIT which recorded five extra base hits in the game. First year Lauren Sundquist was 1-for-2 with a walk, home run, stolen base and two RBI, while junior Arianna Kumar (San Diego, California/Olympian) batted 1-for-4 with a triple, RBI and two runs scored. Holland Poe chipped in with a double, RBI and run scored for the Engineers.

Avi Kuperman hit 1-for-3 with a double and RBI for Emerson. Junior Kate Regan took the loss in the circle for the Lions (0-4), allowing six runs, four earned, on eight hits and five walks with a strikeout over six innings.

MIT took an early lead in the bottom of the first as Thiessen led off with a double, stole third and scored on an infield single by junior Nicole Johnston. The Engineers added three more in the third when Kumar followed a leadoff walk by senior Ava Ladd with an RBI triple to right and then scored when Poe added a double to center. Olivia Scarpaci added an RBI single while Watson was perfect through the first three innings.

Valentina Luciano broke up the perfect Watson with a one-out walk in the fourth and later scored with Kuperman doubled to center. The Lions had two runners on in the inning with a chance to get back in the game, but Watson got a double play to end the threat. Sundquist homered in the home half of the fourth to answer for MIT and cap the scoring before Watson retired nine of the last ten batters she faced to close out the win. 

Up Next

Emerson (3-9, 1-1 NEWMAC) returns to action on Friday when it hosts Smith College for a NEWMAC doubleheader at Rotch Field starting at 6 p.m. Please note the time change for this doubleheader. MIT (13-3, 1-1 NEWMAC) visits Salve Regina University for a NEWMAC twin bill on Friday at 4 p.m.

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