WORCESTER, Mass. (April 24, 2026) – Emerson College earned a split of its New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) softball doubleheader at O'Brien Field this afternoon. Emerson posted an 8-5 win in game one, before Clark rebounded for an 11-6 victory in the nightcap.

Game 1: Emerson 8, Clark 

Emerson grabbed an early lead and made it stand late to secure the game one win behind 13 hits and a solid start in the circle from junior Cal Sheehan, who also helped her cause at the plate with a pair of hits, including an RBI double during the Lions two run first. Sheehan allowed five runs, just two earned, on four hits with six strikeouts, working around six walks, over seven innings to earn the win (4-10). She also finished 2-for-4 at the plate with the RBI double.

Yacovelli belted her first career home run in game one this afternoon (PHOTO BY Andrew Monson)

Sophomore Kari Sorensen went 2-for-3 at the plate for Emerson with a double, RBI and run scored, while first year Malena Cardinale batted 2-for-5 with an RBI. First year Casey Yacovelli belted her first collegiate home run and scored two runs for the Lions, while sophomore Avi Kuperman contributed a double and drove in two.

Sophomore Avery Dillon paced Clark at the plate by hitting 2-for-3 with a stolen base and three RBI. Classmate Avery Della Pina (Tewksbury, Massachusetts/Tewksbury Memorial) went 2-for-4 with an RBI and run scored for the Cougars. Senior Brooke Buzzeo took the loss (8-6) in the circle, surrendering five earned runs on ten hits with five strikeouts and a walk over 6.2 innings.

Three-straight two-out doubles from Sorensen, Kuperman and Sheehan opened the scoring for Emerson in the top of the first. Clark pulled a run back in the second when Della Pina drove in junior Megan Dube with a single to right. Yacovelli restored Emerson's two run lead with her first career home run with two out in the third. The Lions loaded the bases with three-straight singles and then Sorensen plated a run with a one out single to center and then Kuperman followed with a sacrifice fly to right with Clark escaping further damage by doubling up Sorensen at second.

Emerson extended its lead in the fifth after loading the bases again with a single, walk and error on a sacrifice bunt attempt. Yacovelli, who walked, scored when first year Valentina Luciano reached on an error and then Cardinale and first year Aislinn McCoy each delivered RBI singles to center.

Clark pulled two runs back in the sixth with an RBI single from Dillon before Della Pina scored when senior Emelie Spence reached on an error. Dillon drove in two more in the bottom of the seventh with a two-out single two center to draw the hosts with in three but could get no closer.

Game 2: Clark 11, Emerson 6

Caiazza had three hits and drove in two in game two with a double (PHOTO BY Andrew Monson)

Clark erased an early 3-0 deficit with a combined ten runs over the second and third innings, taking the lead for good with a six run third to take the split in the doubleheader with Emerson. Sophomore Merry Griffin paced the Clark lineup going 3-for-4 with three RBI and a run scored, while senior Erin Slavin batted 2-for-4 with a pair of doubles, two runs scored and three RBI.

Avery Dillon added two more hits for Clark, including a double, with a stolen base, RBI and two runs scored, while Emelie Spence went 2-for-4 with a triple, two RBI and two runs scored. Megan Dube earned the game two win (6-9) for the Cougars, allowing six runs, five earned, on six hits with two strikeouts and two walks over seven innings.

Junior Riley Caiazza went 3-for-4 at the plate for Emerson with a double, two RBI and a run scored, while Cal Sheehan batted 3-for-4 with two RBI and a run scored. Sophomore Riley Fasteau hit 3-for-4 for the Lions with a double and run scored, while Malena Cardinale and Aislinn McCoy both contributed two hits and an RBI.

Emerson again grabbed an early lead with a pair in the top of the first with RBI singles from McCoy and Sheehan. The Lions stretched the lead to three runs in the second as Caiazza led off with a double and scored on a single through the left side by Cardinale.

Clark took the lead with a four run second sparked by a two-out two run triple down the left field line by Spence. Slavin followed with an RBI double to right center to score Spence and then scored with a single to center by Griffin.

Emerson reclaimed the lead with a two-run single by Caiazza with two out in the top of the third, but Clark took the lead for good with six in the home half. Dillon knotted the score with an RBI double with the go ahead run scoring on a sacrifice fly from sophomore Gricelda Castro. Slavin followed with a two run double down the leftfield line before Griffin added an RBI single down the line in right and then Dube capped the inning with another RBI double down the leftfield line.

Up Next

Emerson (4-18, 2-10 NEWMAC) is right back in action tomorrow when it hosts Wellesley College for a NEWMAC doubleheader at Rotch Field at 1 p.m. Clark (15-16, 4-10 NEWMAC) visits Babson College for a doubleheader tomorrow at noon.

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