COCOA BEACH, Fla. (March 8, 2026) - Emerson College split a pair of games on day two of the USSSA Space Coast Classic today. The Lions rode a four-hit shutout by Cal Sheehan to an 8-0 win over Fitchburg State University in game one of the day, before being edged by Wisconsin Lutheran College 5-4 in the second.
Game 1: Emerson 8, Fitchburg State 0 (6-innings)
Caiazza |
Junior Cal Sheehan fired a four-hit shutout, while classmate Riley Caiazza and first year Casey Yacovelli each drove in three to lead Emerson to its first win of the season with an 8-0 triumph over Fitchburg State this morning.
Sheehan (1-0) scattered four hits and three walks while striking out ten in the six-inning shutout win. Caiazza hit 2-for-3 with a double and three RBI, while Yacovelli finished 1-for-2 with a double, walk an three RBI. Sophomore Kari Sorensen batted 2-for-3 with an RBI and three runs scored, while first year Valentina Luciano scored three runs and stole a base.
Emerson jumped out to a five run lead after just two innings. The Lions loaded the bases on an error, single and hit by pitch in the bottom of the first to set the table for Yacovelli who cleared the bases with a double to left. Emerson added a pair of runs after the first two batters were retired in the second inning with Caiazza producing an RBI ground rule double to score Valentina who reached on an error for the second-straight inning, before sophomore Avi Kuperman drove in Sorensen with a single down the line in right.
Sheehan did the rest, allowing just two hits over the first four innings, striking out a batter in each frame, with five of Fitchburg's first six outs coming by strikeout. Emerson closed the game out in the bottom of the sixth with Sorensen driving in first year Aislinn McCoy, who drew a leadoff walk, with a single up the middle. Caiazza ended the game with a two-run single to right.
Sophomore Carolyn Brodeur recorded two of Fitchburg's four hits, finishing 2-for-3. Senior Madison Solt (0-1) took the loss in the circle for the Falcons, surrendering five runs, just two earned, on four hits, with four strikeouts and two walks in five innings.
Game 2: Wisconsin Lutheran 4, Emerson 3
Luciano |
Valentina Luciano hit 3-for-4 with a stolen base and run scored to pace the Emerson lineup in game two. Avi Kuperman was 1-for-2 with a double, RBI and run scored, while Riley Caiazza remained productive with an RBI in a 1-for-4 game at the plate. First year Malena Cardinale contributed a double in two at bats with a run scored for the Lions at the bottom of the lineup.
Junior Kate Regan took the loss (0-2), yielding four runs, just two earned, on five hits with a strikeout and three walks over six innings.
Wisconsin Lutheran scored single runs in the second and third innings to grab the lead with an RBI single by freshman Hannah Stellmacher and sacrifice fly by classmate Peyton Crutcher scored junior Madison Heller who drew a lead off walk, stole second and then advanced to third on a groundout.
Emerson cut the lead in half in the fourth as Kuperman drew a one out walk and later scored on a throwing error when Regan reached on a fielder's choice. Wisconsin Lutheran extended its lead to 4-1, manufacturing a single run on a sacrifice fly in the fifth before Stellmacher drove in her second run of the day on a ground out in the sixth.
Emerson rallied in the top of the seventh, loading the bases with none out as Cardinale walked, Luciano singled and Kari Sorensen walked. Caiazza followed with an RBI single to center and then Kuperman delivered a sacrifice fly with one out to score Luciano, but was unable to pull even as reliever Teagan Piven escaped the jam with a popout.
Piven was credited with her first save of the season, allowing two earned runs on two hits with four strikeouts and two walks in 2.2 innings in relief of Brianna Wascher (2-0) who yielded just one unearned run on four hits with two strikeouts and three walks over the first 4.1 innings.
Julianna Alloy hit 2-for-3 for the Warriors, while Stellmacher finished 1-for-3 with two RBI.
Emerson (1-3, 0-0 NEWMAC) will have Monday off before returning to action at the Space Coast Classic on Tuesday against Messiah College at 4:45 p.m., before taking on Saint Mary's University (Minn.) at 7 p.m.
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