BRIGHTON, Mass. – Simmons softball (18-20, 10-6 GNAC) has an opportunity to defend its title earning the third seed in the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) North Division with a split over St. Joseph's College of Maine on Monday evening.
GAME 1: SIMMONS 8, ST. JOSEPH'S COLLEGE OF MAINE 3
From the very first pitch, Simmons came out swinging.
Emily Deleault set the tone immediately, ripping a leadoff triple to ignite the offense. The Sharks didn't waste any time capitalizing, plating four runs in the opening frame and seizing early momentum. Deleault finished the day 2-for-5 with two runs scored, leading a Simmons offense that tallied a season-high 16 hits.
Zoe Soule kept the pressure on the Monks, going 2-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored, while
Teagan Buckley delivered a pair of hits and an RBI of her own.
Ally Hyde and
Trinity Payne each drove in two runs, and catcher
Leah Berdeen also contributed two RBIs as Simmons built an 8–0 lead through four innings.
Meanwhile, in the circle,
Piper Kinney turned in a commanding performance. The junior right-hander tossed a complete game, scattering nine hits while allowing just three runs — only two of them earned — without issuing a walk. Kinney also helped herself at the plate, collecting three hits in a standout two-way effort.
GAME 2: ST. JOSEPH'S COLLEGE OF MAINE 12, SIMMONS 3
The Sharks initiated the game with promise, securing a 2–0 lead in the top of the first inning.
Teagan Buckley delivered an RBI single, and
Trinity Payne added a sacrifice fly, bringing home
Emily Deleault and
Raya Anderson. However, the Monks responded assertively, scoring three runs in their half of the first inning and adding four more in the second, establishing a 7–2 advantage.
Simmons managed to add a run in the fifth inning, but Saint Joseph's continued their offensive momentum, concluding the game with a 12–3 victory. The Sharks' pitching staff faced difficulties containing the Monks' hitters, who amassed nine hits and capitalized on multiple scoring opportunities.
SIMMONS HIGHLIGHTS
- Junior Trinity Payne went two-for-four with four RBI and a run scored on the evening.
- First-year Zoe Soule went three-for-seven with a double, RBI and two runs scored.
- The first four batters of the Sharks lineup in game one – Emily Deleault, Raya Anderson, Zoe Soule and Teagan Buckley – all recorded two hits in the victory.
- Junior right-hander Piper Kinney earned her 12th victory of the season, striking out four opposing batters.
UP NEXT
Simmons secures the third seed in the GNAC North Division and will played the number two seed Emmanuel College on Thursday, May 1 at Clemente Field in Boston. Time to be determined.
