Simmons University

BRIGHTON, Mass. – The No. 1 North seed Simmons University Sharks faced the No. 4 North seed Emmanuel College Saints this evening at Daly Field to open the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Softball Championship Tournament. Simmons took care of business with a 3-0 victory to remain in the winner's bracket of the double-elimination tournament.

How It Happened

• Through the first two frames, both pitchers traded zeros, striking out four apiece to keep the game scoreless.
• With two down in the bottom of the third, Piper Kinney put the ball in play to spark the two-out rally. Next batter up, Abigail Carvalho laced a shot to right center to put runners on second and third for the three-spot hitter Zoe Soule. The sophomore took advantage of her opportunity with a sharply hit ball to left center field to put the Sharks on top, 2-0.
• Knocking on the door in the fifth, Emmanuel loaded up the bases, but senior pitcher Kinney did not waver, forcing a fly out to leave them loaded. 
• First year, Nevaeh Eth belted a two-out double to left center field to send Kinney home and widen the Sharks' advantage to 3-0.
• Simmons nearly added more insurance in the sixth, but Emmanuel was able to escape without any further damage.
• In the top of the seventh, the Saints got the lead-off batter on, but the Sharks' defense was a brick wall as both Kinney and Elizabeth Sidler made excellent defensive plays, followed by a Kinney strikeout to complete the shutout victory.

Beyond The Box Score

• Piper Kinney tossed her eighth complete game shutout of the season tonight.
• Zoe Soule has now booked five games with two or more RBIs on the year.
• The Sharks move on in the winner's side of Pod A and will play the University of Saint Joseph (Conn.) on Saturday, May 2 at 11 a.m. on Daly Field. 

See the full bracket HERE.