FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Fifth-seeded Johnson & Wales made itself the early story of the 2015 GNAC Softball Tournament on Friday evening, taking two over fourth-seeded Simmons College, 9-3, and top-seeded and host Suffolk University, 13-0, at American Legion Field in East Boston, Mass.

Friday's other site saw second-seeded and host Albertus Magnus College defeat sixth-seeded Emmanuel College, 8-6, in West Haven, Conn. That contest came after Emmanuel took down third-seeded Saint Joseph's College of Maine, 8-3.

The remainder of the double-elimination tournament will take place at American Legion. 

As a result, host Suffolk and Saint Joseph's (Maine) will square off in East Boston on Saturday in an elimination game, followed by crosstown Fenway rivals Simmons and Emmanuel going head-to-head in another elimination contest.

Unbeaten JWU and Albertus Magnus will be matched up in the third game on Saturday in a non-elimination showdown before the day's fourth and final game will pair the winners of Saturday's first two games in a third elimination contest.

JWU RECAP
PROVIDENCE, R.I. – In the opener against Simmons, the Wildcats hopped out to an early 1-0 lead when shortstop Cynthia Proby (Bremerton, Wash.)stroked a one-out ground rule double to left and scored two batters later on a Sharks miscue.

The Sharks grabbed their only lead of the day in the bottom of day in the bottom of the second when a bases loaded double to right center by Mikaela Caracciolo (N. Attleboro, Mass.) scored two and gave Simmons the 2-1 edge.

A leadoff homerun by Proby in the next half inning evened the score at three before three straight hits sent two more runners across the plate on their way to a three run inning. JWU's 4-2 lead was cut into quickly in the bottom of the third by Simmons' Emma D'Arpino (Johnston, R.I.) who tripled to center and scored Lauren Backhaus (Windsor, Conn.).

The Wildcats tacked on runs in three of the next four innings en route to the 9-3 victory. Junior Kristen Solari (Old Bridge, N.J.) went 3-for-5 at the plate with a triple, three RBI and two runs scored while Emily Gorecki (Bremerton, Wash.) knocked in two runs in the win.

Caracciolo, D'Arpino and Jen Field (Windham, Maine) each had two hits in the game for the Sharks.

Freshman Jennifer Corona (Middle Island, N.Y.) allowed three runs and struck out five in the complete game effort. Backhaus struck out seven and allowed five earned while allowing 11 hits in the setback.

Against Suffolk, the Wildcats clawed out to a 5-0 lead in the first two innings. Gorecki earned the game's first RBI on a groundout in the top of the first before sophomore Diana Amendolara (Newtown, Pa.) roped a single to center that scored Solari.

Freshman Eileen Eads (Portsmouth, R.I.) struck a gap shot to left center that sent fellow rookie Alex Fantasia (Framingham, Mass.)across the plate from second. Solari picked up two more RBI on the evening with a double to left that scored Proby and Eads and gave JWU a 5-0 lead after two full innings.

In the third, Amendolara led things off with a ground-rule double to left center. She advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on a sacrifice fly by sophomore Kaycee Babineau (Medway, Mass.). Corona stepped up and belted her first career homerun down the rightfield line to increase the Wildcat lead to 7-0.

Up seven in the visitor's half of the fifth, JWU sent six runners around for a 13-0 lead. The team had five hits in the frame including a two run double by Proby.

Solari went 4-for-4 in game two and 7-for-9 combined while Amendolara went 3-for-4 and Corona helped her own cause with a 2-for-2 outing at the plate.

Four Rams picked up a hit on the night including a triple by Morgan Parmenter (Maynard, Mass.).

Corona picked up the win in the complete-game effort while scattering the four hits and striking out four Suffolk batters in five innings pitched.

Ali Yamakaitis (Avenel, N.J.) gave up nine hits and nine runs in three and a third innings pitched for Suffolk.

Johnson & Wales improves to 18-13 for the year while Suffolk moves to 24-11 on the season.  

ALBERTUS RECAP
WEST HAVEN, Conn. - Albertus improved to 23-11 on the year with the win over Emmanuel, tying the program's single-season wins record from 2002.  In the Falcons' 11th appearance in the GNAC Tournament, the Falcons are now 8-12 all-time in tournament action and are now 1-1 against Emmanuel in postseason play all-time.

Albertus jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the second inning when an error and then a bases loaded walk gave the Falcons the early edge.

Emmanuel scored its first run of the game in the top of the third thanks to an RBI double by Catherine Davis.

In the fourth inning, the Falcons scored three runs on two hits and two Emmanuel errors.  Rachel Cataudella(Shelton, Conn.) registered an RBI single in the frame to give Albertus a 5-1 lead.  Albertus pushed out to a 7-1 lead with two runs in the fifth thanks to RBIs from Kirsten McGinty (East Lyme, Conn.) and Brittney Urciuoli(Newington, Conn.).

After getting the first out quickly in the fifth inning, Albertus got into some trouble. Kerrianne Vulpis singled to center for Emmanuel before move into scoring position on an Abbey Alexiades walk.

Another walk issued to Susie Kieselback loaded the bases before an Erin Walsh RBI since to right field. Brooke Ames capitalized on the opportunity for the Saints, hitting a grand slam over the center field wall to cut Albertus' lead to one at 7-6.

Megan Ferraro (Branford, Conn.) came in for relief for Samatha Maselli (Rockville Centre, N.Y.) in the frame and retired the first two batters she faced.

Albertus got one run back from Emmanuel in the sixth on a Melissa Castillo (Taftville, Conn.) single.

Maselli earned the win to improve to 14-3 as she threw 5.1 innings, while allowing five hits and three walks, while striking out one.  Ferraro earned the save as she allowed two hits and no runs.

Samantha Adams took the loss to fall to 4-9 on the year. She allowed two earned runs and six hits.

First Round - Tuesday, April 21 (single elimination) | RECAP
Game 1: #5 Johnson & Wales 10, #8 Mount Ida 0 | BOX
Game 2: #6 Emmanuel 1, #7 Saint Joseph (Conn.) 0 | BOX

Second Round - Friday, April 24 (double elimination begins)
Game 3: #5 Johnson & Wales 9, #4 Simmons 3 | BOX
Game 4: #6 Emmanuel 8, #3 Saint Joseph's Maine 3 | BOX
Game 5: #5 Johnson & Wales 13, #1 Suffolk 0 | BOX
Game 6: #2 Albertus Magnus 8, #6 Emmanuel 6 | BOX

Saturday & Sunday contests played at American Legion Field, East Boston, Mass.

Semifinals - Saturday, April 25 (Hosted by Suffolk)
Game 7: #3 Saint Joseph's Maine vs. #1 Suffolk(elimination game) - 10:00 a.m.
Game 8: #4 Simmons 3 vs. #6 Emmanuel (elimination game) - 12:15 p.m.
Game 9: #5 Johnson & Wales vs. #2 Albertus Magnus - 2:30 p.m.
Game 10: Game 7 winner vs. Game 8 winner (elimination game) - 4:45 p.m. 

Championship - Sunday, April 26 (Hosted by Suffolk)
Game 11: Game 9 loser vs. Game 10 winner (elimination game) - 10:00 a.m.
Game 12: Game 9 winner vs Game 11 winner - 12:15 p.m.
Game 13: if necessary - 2:30 p.m.

– #theGNAC –