Box Score

LEWISVILLE, N.C. - Pine Manor College Softball dropped a 10-2 decision in six innings to Agnes Scott College on day two of the 2013 Great South Athletic Conference Softball Championship Tournament. With the setback, Pine Manor ends the 2013 season with a record of 12-10. 

The Scotties got out to a 4-0 lead in the first inning, scoring four runs on four hits in the bottom of the inning after Pine Manor left two runners on in the top of the first.

Trailing 4-0, the Gators put together a rally to cut the deficit in half. Freshman Chardonai Rose (Fairfield, CA) led off the inning with a single through the left side of the infield before advancing to second on a wild pitch. Senior Kaylyn Delgado (Worcester, MA) then followed with a single of her own, scoring Rose, before advancing to second on the throw to the plate. A third straight single from freshman Betzy Maysonet (Boston, MA) put runners on the corners with no one out.

With two runners on base, junior Natasha Kopystynsky (Johnsburg, IL) then delivered a double into the left centerfield gap to score Delgado. However, Maysonet was cut down at the plate trying to score from first. With two runs in and Kopystynsky on second the Gators were unable to add any more to their total as the next two batters grounded out in order, stranding Kopystynsky on third to end the inning. 

The teams both played a scoreless third inning but Agnes Scott would eventually added to its lead in the next three innings. Scoring two in the fourth, one in the fifth and three in the sixth to take a 10-2 lead and end the game in six innings due to the eight run margin. With the result, the Scotties advanced to take on Salem College later in the day.

Box Score

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. -- Freshman Sybil Lynch reached base safely three times and scored a run but Pine Manor College Softball dropped a 9-1 decision in five innings to host Salem College in game one of the 2013 Great South Athletic Conference (GSAC) Tournament at the Forsyth Country Day School in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. 

The Gators will return to action on Saturday morning at 10:00 AM in Game 7 of the tournament, they will take on the winner of Game 5, which takes place at 4:00 PM today.

Live updates for all Pine Manor College GSAC Tournament games are available online at www.twitter.com/PMCAthletics. 

A trio of Gators earned 2013 Great South Athletic Conference (GSAC) All-Conference Awards at the annual softball banquet on Friday evening. Senior pitcher Tia Nelson and freshman Chardonai Rose (Fairfield, CA) both earned a place on the All-Conference Team. While, Rose and classmate Sybil Lynch (Hoboken, NJ) both earned a spot on the All-Freshman Team. For the full release from the GSAC, read below.

Courtesy of the Great South Athletic Conference

ATLANTA, Ga. - The Great South Athletic Conference announced their softball postseason award winners today Huntingdon's  Brittany Richardson won the conference Player of the Year honors to highlight the list of recipients. Kristen Rose of Finlandia claimed the elite Freshman of the Year distinction while Huntingdon's head coach, Gynger Williams, earned the Coach of the Year nod following voting by her peers.

Brittany Richardson, a senior catcher from Muscle Shoals, Ala., was the straw that stirred the drink for the Hawks this season. Richardson was an All-Conference selection as a junior before an injury cut her season short. As a senior, she has returned from injury and dominated. In 95 at-bats this season, she is batting .484 with six home runs, 10 doubles, 23 RBIs, 31 runs and a .779 slugging percentage. She also has 11 stolen bases. As a catcher, she has thrown out 10 base runners and has not committed an error in 31 games. Against GSAC competition, she has a .604 batting average with two home runs, 12 RBIs, 17 runs and a .896 slugging percentage.

Kristen Rose, a freshman outfielder from Covington, Va., had an incredible debut season for the Lions, helping them post a 21-6 overall record and earn the No. 2 seed in the 2013 GSAC Softball Tournament. Rose batted .464 in 2013 with a .515 on-base percentage and a robust .881 slugging percentage. She scored 43 runs and drove home an additional 35 for Finlandia while displaying power along the way with 8 homers in 2013.

Gynger Williams helmed her Huntingdon squad to a 23-9 overall record and a perfect 16-0 mark in GSAC play. Williams broke into the coaching profession in 1995 at Calhoun Community College, following a successful playing career both at Calhoun and Athens State College. Williams joined the Huntingdon staff in 2012 following two seasons at Northwest-Shoals Community College in Muscle Shoals, Ala. After taking over a program on probation and with only seven recruited players during her first year, Williams helped the Patriots to their first Alabama Community College Conference Regional Tournament as a fast-pitch program last season.

2013 GSAC Softball All-Conference Team

Catchers (2)
Brittany Richardson (Huntingdon) and Jenni Jobe (Covenant)

Infielders (7)
Lauren Welch (Huntingdon), Shivani Ghodadra (Agnes Scott), Kierston Garner (Salem), Adrianna Osuna (Finlandia), Avi Greene (Agnes Scott), Ashley Zachmeyer Huntingdon) and Chardonai Rose (Pine Manor)

Outfielders (5)
Kristen Rose (Finlandia), Melanie Ennis (Agnes Scott), Kristi Morton (Salem), Jenna Rimensnyder (Huntingdon) and Aimee McKibbin (Agnes Scott)

Utility Players (2)
Kayla Kennedy (Salem) and Morgan Lane (Covenant)

Pitchers (4)
Melissa McClure (Huntingdon), Casey Arnold (Agnes Scott), Alyson Herman (Finlandia) and Tia Nelson (Pine Manor)

2013 GSAC Softball All-Freshman Team

Kristen Rose of Finlandia
Ashlee Zachmeyer of Huntingdon
Kierston Garner of Salem
Chardonai Rose of Pine Manor
Casey Arnold of Agnes Scott
Morgan Lane of Covenant
Halleigh Dinicholas of Huntingdon
Allie Watkins of Salem
Sybil Lynch of Pine Manor
Karson Chapman of Salem

Also, be sure to check www.pmc.edu/athletics throughout the weekend for the latest updates or by following us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/PMCAthletics.

Further information can be found at the official site of the Great South Athletic Conference by visiting www.greatsouth.org.

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CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. -- Pine Manor College Softball will make its first appearance in the Great South Athletic Conference (GSAC) Tournament this Friday, April 26, 2013, when they take on tournament host Salem College at Forsyth Country Day School in Clemmons, NC.

The fifth-seeded Gators (12-8 overall) will take on the fourth seeded Salem College Spirits (12-20, 9-7 GSAC) in the first game of the double-elimination tournament on Friday morning at 10:00 AM.

A member of the GSAC since 2009, Salem is one of our nation's most distinguished private liberal arts colleges for women.  Salem is the oldest educational institution for women in the United States and boasts a proud history of fostering independence in women. The Spirits enter the tournament with a 7-3 record in their last ten games. Salem is led by junior Kristi Morton (Trussville, AL), who has a team-high .429 batting average, and freshman Kierston Garner (Danbury, NC), who has hit a team-high six home runs this season.

The winner will advance to take on the tournament’s top overall seed, Huntingdon College (23-9, 16-0 GSAC), in the tournament’s fourth game at 2:00 PM on Friday. The loser will take on the loser of the tournament’s fifth game in an elimination game on Saturday morning at 10:00 AM.  

All games will be played at Forsyth Country Day School unless noted otherwise on the schedule below.

TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE

Friday

10AM Game 1: #4 Salem vs. #5 Pine Manor

12PM Game 2: #2 Finlandia vs. #7 Trinity Washington

12PM Game 3: #3 Agnes Scott vs. #6 Wesleyan (at Salem College Field)

2PM Game 4: #1 Huntingdon vs. Game 1 winner

4PM Game 5: Game 2 winner vs. Game 3 winner

4PM Game 6: Game 2 loser vs. Game 3 loser (at Salem College Field)

Saturday

10AM Game 7: Game 1 loser vs. Game 5 loser

12PM Game 8: Game 6 winner vs. Game 4 loser

2PM Game 9: Game 4 winner vs. Game 5 winner

4PM Game 10: Game 8 winner vs. Game 7 winner

6PM Game 11: Game 9 loser vs. Game 10 winner

Sunday

The championship game of the GSAC Tournament will take place on Sunday, April 28 at 12:00 PM. If necessary, an additional game will be played at 2:00 PM Sunday. The winner will earn the conference's automatic qualifier to the 2013 NCAA Division III Softball Championship Tournament.

For full tournament information, including the complete tournament schedule and ticket prices, visit the official tournament website by clicking here.

Box Scores: Game 1 | Game 2

BUZZARDS BAY, Mass. --  Freshman Vanessa Soto (Fontana, Calif.) rapped out eight hits and drove in seven runs to lead Pine Manor to a sweep of a non-league college softball doubleheader from Massachusetts Maritime Thursday afternoon by scores of 19-2 in the opener and 17-0 in the nightcap in five inning contests played at Alison Rollins Field.

The visiting Gators (12-8) recorded 45 hits in the twinbill, including six from junior Macayla Kirylo (Pawtucket, R.I.), who drove in seven runs that also featured a two-run homer in the nightcap.  Freshmen Sybil Lynch(Hoboken, N.J.) and Chardonai Rose (Fairfield, Calif.) also collected six hits each while combining for nine RBI for Pine Manor, which also received six hits off the bat of senior Kaylyn Delgado (Worcester, Mass.).  Senior Tia Nelson (Rockport, Mass.) added five hits at the plate and recorded both victories inside the circle for the Gators, as she allowed nine combined hits and fanned nine to improve to 12-6 on the season.  Pine Manor took control of the opener with a six-run second inning rally and iced that triumph with a nine-run outburst in the fifth, and the visitors used an 11-run second inning output in the nightcap to complete the sweep.

Senior Janelle Beaulieu (Buzzards Bay, Mass.) rapped out three hits in the twinbill setback for the host Buccaneers (0-16), as she and fellow senior Rachel Johnson (South Chatham, Mass.) also drove in runs on the day. Senior Erin Eastman (Harwich, Mass.), along with Johnson and freshmen Marissa Boudreau (New Bedford, Mass.), Brittany Driscoll (Spencer, Mass.), Alyssa Lebo (Oklahoma City, Okla.) and Cassie Sanderson (North Dighton, Mass.) recorded safeties.  Beaulieu and freshman Cassie Swanson (Quincy, Mass.) suffered the setbacks on the mound for Massachusetts Maritime on the afternoon.

Massachusetts Maritime heads to Worcester, Mass. on Saturday afternoon to take on Worcester State in a Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference doubleheader that begins at Noon.

Tomorrow afternoon, PMC Softball will take on U. Maine - Presque Isle at 3:30 PM at Pine Manor Softball Field. Come on out and support the Gators as they show their support for those affected by Monday's tragedy at the Boston Marathon.

Thanks to Mass. Maritime Athletic Communications

Box Scores: Game 1 | Game 2

NEWTON, Mass. – Pine Manor Softball’s season-high winning streak ended at eight games as the host Mustangs of Mount Ida took both games of a softball doubleheader on Tuesday afternoon in Newton, MA. In game one, Mount Ida held on for a 4-3 victory before running away with game two by a 12-4 margin. The pair of wins improves the Mustangs to 12-21 on the season, while Pine Manor drops to 10-8 on the year.

In game one, Pine Manor jumped out to a 2-0 advantage in the first inning. Freshman Sybil Lynch (Hoboken, NJ) reached base on a two base error from Mount Ida starter Devan Meeker to lead off the game. With Lynch aboard, PMC second baseman Vanessa Soto (Fontana, CA) worked a walk before junior Macayla Kirylo (Pawtucket, RI) delivered a single through the left side of the infield to score Lynch and advance Soto to second. With two aboard, PMC starting pitcher Tia Nelson (Rockport, MA) delivered a single into right field to load the bases for freshman Chardonai Rose (Fairfield, CA). Rose then produced the third single of the inning, scoring Soto from third for the second run of the game. With the bases loaded, Meeker was able to retire the next three batters to limit the damage heading into the home half of the inning.

The Pine Manor lead was short lived as Mount Ida rallied for two runs in the bottom of the first to tie score, before scoring again in both the second and third innings to take a 4-2 advantage.

In the home half of the first, a one out walk to senior Tiffany Hamann (Newton, MA), followed by steal of second, immediately gave the Mustangs a runner in scoring position. With Hamann aboard, freshman Cassie Durand (Dracut, MA) produced a single to put runners on the corners for Mount Ida. Durand then stole second to move herself into scoring position before an errant throw from Soto allowed both runners to score and Mustang junior Kristen Guerrero to reach base.

In the Mount Ida third inning, the Mustangs manufactured a run to take the lead. A sacrifice bunt from junior Chaise Courbron (Monroe, CT) moved classmate Megan Hall to third after Hall had led off the inning with a double. Hall then scored on a sacrifice fly from Meeker to give Mount Ida its first lead of the game at 3-2, before Nelson was able to strike out Hamann to retire the side. The Mustangs then tacked on another in the third inning when freshman Kaitlyn Berube (Fall River, MA) scored Durand with an RBI ground-out to make the score 4-2.

Pine Manor got a run back in the top of the fifth inning, as back-to-back one out singles from Nelson and Rose were followed by a double from senior Kaylyn Delgado (Worcester, MA) that scored Nelson. However, with two aboard and one out, Meeker was again able to get out of trouble thanks to some help from Courbron. With Delgado and Rose both in scoring position, freshman Betzy Maysonet (Boston, MA) hit a sacrifice fly to left field, but Courbron delivered a strike to home plate to throw out Rose before she could score and keep the Mustangs in front, 4-3.

In the top of the seventh, Meeker was again able to work out of trouble, retiring Delgado after Rose and Kirylo both reached base on two-out singles. Meeker scattered ten hits over seven innings in game one, limiting the damage to just three runs (two earned), to help earn herself her third win of the season.

In the early innings of game two, it looked like the back and forth battle between the two teams would continue. Pine Manor again opened the game by scoring a pair of runs in the first inning. Nelson cashed in on a lead-off double from Lynch, delivering a two out single to center to score the first run of the game. Nelson then came around to score thanks to back-to-back singles from Rose and Delgado, the second of which scored Nelson from third.

Like in game one, Mount Ida countered in the bottom of the inning. However, this time the Mustangs put up four runs, with the big blow coming off of the bat of sophomore Nickole Soto (Marlboro, MA). Hamann reached base thanks to a one-out bunt single before advancing to second on a wild pitch. She then came a around to score on a double by Durand before a single from Guerrero returned the favor and drove Durand home to tie the score. With Guerrero on second, Soto then delivered a two-run home run over the wall in right center to pull Mount Ida out in front 4-2.

Pine Manor was able to get one run back in the top of the second, as a two out bunt single from Lynch, followed by a two base error, allowed the Gators’ centerfielder to score easily on a double from Vanessa Soto.

Both teams went down in order in the third inning and PMC was unable to do anything with a lead-off base runner in the top of the fourth before Mount Ida was able to increase its advantage in the bottom of the fourth on the strength of three hits and two Pine Manor errors. Doubles from Hall, freshman Yaritza Otero (Boston, MA) combined with two errors from the Pine Manor outfield helped the Mustangs extend their advantage to 8-3.

In the fifth inning, a double from Delgado scored Nelson to pull the Gators to within four runs but Mount Ida again added to its lead in the bottom of the inning, tacking on four more runs to push their advantage to eight and end the game in five innings with a 12-4 victory.

Meeker finished with four RBIs in game two to help Mount Ida starter Allie Norris (Plymouth, MA) record her ninth win of the season. Norris struck out a pair while allowing two earned runs over five innings to earn the game two victory.

 Mount Ida will be back in action on Friday when they host Johnson and Wales University for a doubleheader beginning at 3:00 PM. Pine Manor also returns to action on Thursday afternoon, when the Gators will travel to take on the Massachusetts Maritime Academy in a doubleheader at 3:30 PM.

Box Scores: Game 1 | Game 2

CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. – Senior starting pitcher Tia Nelson (Rockport, MA), above, pitched a complete game shutout in game one and picked up her tenth victory of the season in game two to lead the Gators to a sweep, 7-0 and 5-3, over visiting Fisher College on Saturday afternoon at Pine Manor Field.

Nelson struck out 13 batters while surrendering only four hits to help Pine Manor cruise to a 7-0 victory in game one over Fisher. Nelson also drove in a team-high five RBIs on the day, knocking in three runners in game one and a pair in game two.

Freshman Sybil Lynch (Hoboken, NJ) led off the bottom of the first with a walk before advancing to third on a single from classmate Vanessa Soto (Fontana, CA). A walk to junior Macayla Krylo (Pawtucket, RI) then brought Nelson to the plate with the bases loaded and no one out. Nelson delivered a single to left field to score Lynch and Soto and advance Kirylo to second. A double-steal from Kirylo and Nelson, following a strikeout by Chardonai Rose (Fairfield, CA), allowed Kirylo to score from third on a ground out by Kaylyn Delgado (Worcester, MA). Nelson then scored later in the inning thanks to a double from battery mate Betzy Maysonet (Boston, MA) to give the Gators a 5-0 advantage.

Nelson then struck out six of the next seven batters she faced, retiring the side on strikeouts in both the top of the second and third inning, as the game moved along to the fifth inning before Pine Manor added to its advantage.

In the fifth, back-to-back one out singles from Soto and Kirylo helped move Soto into scoring position at third base, where a sacrifice fly from Nelson drove in the freshman second baseman. Kirylo would then score on an error later in the inning to push the PMC lead to 7-0. From there Nelson only surrendered one hit in the final two innings as PMC cruised to a game one win.

In game two, the Gators again got out to an early lead, manufacturing a run to take a 1-0 advantage in the first inning. With two-away in the inning, Kirylo worked a walk before advancing to second on a base hit from Nelson. With the two runners aboard, Rose singled into left field, scoring Kirylo for the only run of the inning.

With Pine Manor leading 1-0 in the top of the fifth inning, Fisher produced a two-run rally to take its first lead of the day at 2-1. With one-out, Fisher freshman Jayla Vega (Hoboken, NJ) worked a walk to give the Lady Falcons a base runner. Vega then stole second and third on either side of a strikeout from centerfielder Emily Smith (Oxford, NY) before coming around to score, and tie the game, on a single to right field from classmate Kaliah Goulet (Haverhill, MA). With Goulet on second following the play, freshman Samantha Maldonado (Hoboken, NJ) doubled to left to score Goulet and give Fisher the 2-1 advantage.

The lead was short lived for Fisher, as the Gators responded with four runs in the home half of the fifth inning to retake the lead. Soto led off the inning, reaching base after being hit by a pitch before Kirylo reached thanks to error. With both runners in scoring position following the error: Nelson again delivered for the Gators, clearing the bases with a two RBI double to left centerfield. Nelson would then come around to score on a double from Delgado. While, Delgado scored later in the inning on a two-out single from Natasha Kopystynsky (Johnsburg, IL) that gave PMC the 5-2 lead.

In the top of the seventh inning, Fisher attempted to rally one final time. Smith reached base with one away thanks to a single. She then stole second base and advanced to third when the errant pickoff attempt went into centerfield. With Smith on third, Goulet hit a deep sacrifice fly to score the runner and cut the PMC advantage to 5-3. With two outs, back-to-back singles followed by a wild pitch put the tying runs in scoring position for the Lady Falcons but Nelson was able to induce a ground ball to second to secure the 5-3 win – Pine Manor’s eighth victory in-a-row. 

Fisher College will return to action on Wednesday April 17 when they host New England College for a doubleheader beginning at 3:00 PM. The Gators will make the short drive to Mount Ida College in Newton, MA on Tuesday for a 3:00 PM doubleheader.

Box Score: Game 1 | Game 2

Chestnut Hill, Mass. – Junior Macayla Kirylo, above left, (Pawtucket, RI) drove in four RBIs on the day while classmate Natasha Kopystynsky, above right, (Johnsburg, IL) collected three hits and made a pair of highlight-reel catches in right field to help the lead Pine Manor College Softball to a doubleheader sweep, 9-1 (5 inn.) and 7-2, over Wheelock College on Wednesday afternoon at Pine Manor Field. With the sweep the Gators improve to 8-6 while Wheelock drops to 0-13.

Kopystynsky was one of three Gators to finish the day with three hits, as she was joined by freshman Chardonai Rose (Fairfield, CA) and senior Kaylyn Delgado (Worcester, MA). In addition, five different Gators collected RBIs in game one while six different players drove runs home in game two.

After a scoreless first, Pine Manor scored two runs to take an early lead in the second inning of game one. Gators’ starting pitcher Tia Nelson (Rockport, MA) led off the inning with a double before coming around to score on a wild pitch with two outs in the inning. With Wheelock scrambling to cut down Nelson an errant throw allowed Delgado to score as well, after she had reached base earlier due to being hit by a pitch.

Trailing 2-0, Wheelock manufactured a run in the top of the third. With Jacky Hull (Braintree, MA) on second thanks to a one-out double, starting pitcher Kim Perault ((Medford, MA) lined a two-out single into center two batters later, advancing Hull to third and giving the Wildcats two aboard with two away. Perault then forced an errant throw on an attempted steal, allowing Hull to score on the play.

In the home half of the inning, a pair of lead-off walks doomed the Wildcats, as Kopystynsky and freshman Sybil Lynch (Hoboken, NJ) both reached base thanks to free passes to start off the inning before both advancing into scoring position on a wild pitch. Freshman Vanessa Soto (Fontana, CA) then delivered an RBI single to score Kopystynsky and advance Lynch to third. Lynch would later come home on an RBI ground-out from Kirylo, while Soto would find her way around to score thanks to a sacrifice fly from Nelson.

Leading 5-1, Pine Manor tacked on four more runs in the bottom of the fourth inning, as Kirylo scored both Kopystynsky and Lynch with a two-out double to the left centerfield gap. The Gators would then add two more runs later in the inning to take a 9-1 lead into the top of the fifth inning. With Wheelock unable to rally in the fifth, the game ended in a 9-1 PMC victory.

In game two, the Wildcats got out to a 1-0 first inning lead. Hull led off the inning with a single to right and was advanced to second by virtue of a sacrifice bunt from Katie Fleming (West Boylston, MA). Hull then stole third before coming around to score on an RBI ground-out from Perault.

Hull was one of two Wildcats to collect two hits in game two, along with sophomore Molly Rose (Weymouth, MA). On the day, Hull and Perault were the only two Wildcats to finish with three hits.

With Wheelock leading 1-0, the game moved to the bottom of the second inning before the Gators were able to counter. A lead-off single from Chardonai Rose helped the Gators to tie the score, as the freshman shortstop moved to third on an errant pick-off attempt and then easily scored on an RBI double from Betzy Maysonet (Boston, MA).

Wheelock responded quickly in the top of the third, retaking the lead when Perault was able to score on an error by PMC leftfielder Heather Hernandez (Boston, MA) after reaching base earlier in the inning thanks to a single to right field.

Trailing 2-1, the Gators produced a pair of runs in the bottom of the fourth to take the lead for good. With one away, Kopystynsky delivered a single to left. Hernandez then reached base after being hit by a pitch before both runners moved into scoring position on a wild pitch. Soto then followed with a single to left to score Kopystynsky and move Hernandez to third. With runners on the corners, Kirylo drove home her fourth run of the day with another double into the left centerfield gap.

In the Wheelock fifth, Fleming walked to open the inning before advancing to second on a sacrifice bunt. However, with a runner in scoring position, Kopystynsky produced a great running grab in foul territory for the second out of the inning. Nelson then induced a ground ball to end the threat.

Kopystynsky again ranged into foul ground in the sixth inning to snag a ball headed out of play--helping to secure a one-two-three inning for the Gators.

Following the one-two-three top of the sixth inning, Pine Manor added four more runs on two hits and two Wheelock errors in the bottom of the sixth inning to secure the 7-2 victory. For the Gators, Nelson added two more victories to improve to 8-4 on the season, as she struck out a total of 15 batters on the day.

Wheelock will be back in action on Thursday afternoon when they take on conference and cross-town rival Newbury College at Pine Manor Field. The Gators will return to the field on Saturday afternoon when they host Fisher College in a doubleheader beginning at 12 noon.

Delgado drove in 15 RBIs to help lead the Gators to a 6-2 record last week. Delgado totaled 17 hits in 23 at bats, hitting .739 on the week while hitting a pair of doubles, a triple and hitting three home runs. Delgado went back-to-back with PMC freshman Chardonai Rose during a Wednesday sweep of Daniel Webster. She then hit a grand slam in a set back to Gordon College on Friday before hitting a three-run home run to help the Gators to a doubleheader sweep of New Rochelle on Sunday. Delgado also collected five walks to bring her on-base percentage for the week to .786

The GSAC sports information directors nominate Player of the Week candidates and then vote on the top two nominees in each sport as selected by the conference office. Player of the Week voting occurs on Tuesdays and the weekly announcement of the winners is released each Wednesday morning.

Box Scores: Game 1 | Game 2

NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. -- Pine Manor Softball picked up a pair of wins on Sunday afternoon, topping The College of New Rochelle in both games of a doubleheader, 28-0 and 9-0. Both games ended in five innings. With the two wins, the Gators improve to 6-6 on the season. New Rochelle drops to 3-12 overall.

The Gators scored in the first four innings of game one, jumping out to a big lead thanks to a six-run first inning. Every Gator starter recorded at least one hit and one RBI in the game one, led by senior Kaylyn Delgado (Worcester, MA). who recorded a team-high six RBIs on a team-high four hits-- including a three-run home run in the top of the first inning. 

Junior Macayla Kirylo (Pawtucket, RI), senior Tia Nelson (Rockport, MA) and freshman Metzy Maysonet (Boston, MA) all recorded four RBIs, with Kirylo and Nelson each scoring four runs as well. Nelson pitched all five innings in both game one and two , allowing only one hit in game one and two hits in game two while striking out a season-high 12 batters in both games to improve her record to 6-4.

In game two, the Gators again jumped out to an early lead, taking an 8-0 advantage before cruising to a 9-0 victory in the nightcap. Delgado added three more hits and two more RBIs in game two to finish with eight RBIs on the day.

The Blue Angels will be back in action on Tuesday when they take on Brooklyn College. The Gators will return home to host Wheelock College on Wednesday afternoon in a doubleheader beginning at 3:00 PM 

Box Scores: Game 1 | Game 2

Chestnut Hill, Mass. – Junior Macayla Kirylo (Pawtucket, RI), pictured above, hit a pair of home runs and senior starting pitcher Tia Nelson (Rockport, MA) recorded a pair of victories, 6-5 and 10-1 (5 innings), to help lead Pine Manor to a sweep of a Saturday afternoon softball doubleheader over the University of Maine a Presque Isle (UMPI). The pair of wins improves the Gators’ overall record to 4-6 on the season, while the Owls drop to 2-12.

In game one, the Gators grabbed the early lead in the bottom of the first inning thanks to a pair of hits and a UMPI error that helped PMC earn a 3-0 advantage. Freshman Sybil Lynch (Hoboken, NJ) reached base to lead-off the inning after being hit by a pitch. Classmate Vanessa Soto (Fontana, CA) then followed with a single to centerfield to advance Lynch to second before Kirylo worked a walk to load the bases with no one out.

Two of the three runners would then find their way home by the end of the inning. Nelson earned a fielder’s choice-RBI, grounding a ball to short that scored Lynch, before Chardonai Rose (Fairfield, CA) reached base on an error by the pitcher while also driving in another run. With one away, Kaylyn Delgado (Worcester, MA) delivered a base hit to left field to score Nelson before UMPI retired the next two batters to limit the damage to 3-0.

In the top of the third, the Owls put together their own three-run inning to tie the score. Centerfielder Ashley Laking (Lambert Lake, ME) reached base on an error to start of the inning, before right fielder Jessica Campbell (Lisbon, ME) delivered a triple down the right field line to score Laking and leave herself in scoring position. However, a heads up play from Nelson on a comebacker to the pitchers circle would cut down Campbell while allowing Kellie Peers (Casewell, ME) to reach first on a fielder’s choice.

Taylor Cochran (Topsfield, ME) then reached base thanks to a single before both runners advanced to scoring position on a ground out to second base. With two away in the inning, UMPI freshman Megan Hannigan (Houlton, ME) drove in a pair of runs with a two-RBI single to right-centerfield to tie the score at 3-3.

In the bottom of the fifth inning, the Gators picked up two quick outs, but then got two runs back- the first coming on Kirylo’s first home run of the day, a line drive over the centerfield wall. Nelson then followed with a single to right field before heading home on an RBI-double from Rose.

Presque Isle manufactured a run in the bottom of the inning to stay within striking distance, as Hannigan scored on an RBI single from Brittany Leutjen (Hampden, ME) to make the score 5-4.

In the bottom of the inning, the Gators took advantage of a leadoff triple from Delgado, as Betzy Maysonet (Boston, MA) picked up an RBI on a groundout to give PMC a 6-4 advantage heading into the seventh inning.

Trailing 6-4 in the top of the seventh inning, the Owls were only able to manage one run as Peers made her way around to score after reaching base on a single to left. However, with Cochran standing on second, Hannigan struck out to end the threat and give PMC the hard-fought 6-5 victory.

Game two was much different than the back-and-forth battle in game one. Pine Manor once again jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning but the Gators didn’t relent for the remainder of the contest, scoring four runs in the second, one in the third and two in the fourth to end the game in five innings with a 10-1 victory.

Kirylo recorded her second home run of the day with a solo shot in the third inning, while Nelson went 2-for-3 with four RBIs and a run scored to power the Gators. Junior Natasha Kopystynsky (Johnsburg, IL) also delivered a pair of RBIs for the Gators despite not recording a hit in the contest.  Nelson also recorded her second victory of the day in the circle and with the pair of wins on the day improved to 4-4 on the season.

UMPI will now head across town to Fisher College to play their third game of the day this evening at 7:00 PM. They will also take on the Falcons in a doubleheader tomorrow afternoon. The Gators will close out a busy weekend tomorrow when they travel to The College of New Rochelle (NY) to take on the Blue Angels in a 1:00 PM doubleheader.

After producing six runs and only ceding two hits to Pine Manor, it seemed the Scots had game one in hand heading into the third inning, but the Gators were not giving up so soon. Pine Manor capitalized on Gordon errors with singles from Macayla Kirylo (Jr./Pawtucket, R.I.) Chardonal Rose (Fr./Fairfield, Calif.) to bring in their first run and load the bases. This brought up Kaylyn Delgado (Sr./Worcester, Mass.)  with one out, who launched a grand slam over the right field fence to set the game at a 6-5 Gordon lead. Scots’ Skylar Bareford (Jr./Stonington, Conn.) then closed out the inning with two of her seven strikeouts of the game.

The Scots buckled down on defense and staved off all further Gator attacks, while earning two more runs of their own in the bottom of the sixth to close out the game with an 8-5 advantage. 

Game two belonged completely to the Scots as they jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the first inning and never looked back. Gordon pitcher Kelly Beardslee (Jr./Thomaston, Conn.) gave up just three hits in 20 batters faced in the 14-0 shutout.

Leading the way for the Scots, each with four hits on the day, were Gianna Palermo (Fr./Hope, R.I.), Rachel Ryder (So./Telford, Pa.), and Kiersten Bieren (Fr./Groton, Mass.), with Bieren chipping in three RBIs. In game two junior Shannon Dodds went 2-3 with three RBIs to help seal the victory for the Scots.

For the Gators, standout offensive play came from Delgado and Kirylo who went 3-4 and 3-5, respectively, with Delgado picking up four RBIs.

The Scots are out on the diamond again tomorrow as they host Commonwealth Coast Conference opponent Roger Williams for a doubleheader at 12:00p.m. Pine Manor returns to action on the same day with a pair of home games against UMaine Presque Isle beginning 11:00a.m.

Thanks to Gordon College Athletic Communications

Box Scores: Game 1 | Game 2

CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. – Betzy Maysonet-Urbina (Boston, MA) hit a one-out single into leftfield to score classmate Chardonai Rose (Fairfield, CA) from second base and lead Pine Manor College Softball to a 6-5 win in game two, and a two-game sweep, of Daniel Webster Wednesday afternoon. The Gators won game one by a score of 7-3. With the pair of victories Pine Manor improves to 2-4 on the season, while Daniel Webster drops to 5-11.

In game one, the Gators powered their way past the Eagles, hitting three home runs and scoring seven runs to take the 7-3 victory. Rose finished the opener with a career-high four RBIs, while Macayla Kirylo (Pawtucket, RI) added to her team leading total with a pair of her own. An RBI in game two gave Kirylo three RBIs on the day and seven in the Gators first six games.

Chelsey Crawford gave the Eagles an early 1-0 lead in the first inning, singling to centerfield to score DWC catcher Mollie Bartles (Torrington, CT). The game would move to the bottom-half of the second before Pine Manor would get on the board thanks to an RBI single from Rose.

In the third inning, the Eagles regained the lead thanks to a pair of Pine Manor errors that opened the door for Daniel Webster to manufacture a run. However, it didn’t take long for the Gators to regain the lead in the bottom half of the inning as Kirylo delivered a two-run shot over the left-centerfield wall to put Pine Manor ahead, 3-2.

The Gators would tack four more runs on in the fifth inning thanks to back-to-back home runs from Rose and senior Kaylyn Delgado (Worcester, MA). With two outs in the inning, a Kirylo walk was followed by a single from PMC starting pitcher Tia Nelson (Rockpot, MA). Rose then hit a three-run home run to straight-away center before Delgado followed with a solo-shot to left-centerfield. Nelson went the distance in game one to record her first victory of the season.

In game two, the Gators broke open a 3-3 tie by scoring one run in the bottom of both the fifth and sixth innings to take a 5-3 lead into the top of the seventh inning. However, the two run cushion wasn’t enough to hold off the Eagles, as Daniel Webster rallied for two runs in the top of the seventh to tie the score at 5-5.

With one away in the seventh inning, Bartels delivered a single into centerfield, before advancing to second when PMC centerfielder Sybil Lynch (Hoboken, NJ) misplayed the ball in centerfield. Bartels then stole second before Heather Strong (Palmer, MA) singled to right, scoring Bartels, to cut the Eagle deficit to just one run. Strong finished game two going 4-for-4 at the plate with a pair of RBIs, including a solo home run in the third, and three runs scored.

Strong then advanced to second on a ground out, bringing Sara Durocher (Keene, NH) to the dish with two out and one runner in scoring position. Durocher then delivered a knock into centerfield, scoring Strong and tying the score at 5-all.

In the home half of the seventh inning, Nelson led-off the inning with a single. Nelson then traded places with Rose following a fielder’s choice out at second, bringing Delgado to the plate with one away. Delgado then ripped a single into left field, advancing Rose to second and setting the stage for Maysonet-Urbina. With one away, the freshman catcher delivered a single into leftfield to bring home Rose and secure the 6-5 Gator victory.

Nelson finished game two with five strikeouts while giving up five runs over a complete seven innings of work for her second victory of the day and the season to improve to 2-3 overall. Despite helping her own cause in the top of the seventh inning, Durocher picked up the loss to drop her record to 1-3 on the year , as she also struck out five while surrendering six runs (three earned) over six and a third innings pitched.

The Eagles will return to the field on Saturday afternoon when they host Wheelock College for a doubleheader beginning at 12:00 noon. The Gators will be back in action this Friday when they travel to face Gordon College for a doubleheader beginning at 3:30 PM.

Box Scores: Game 1 | Game 2

CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. -- Emmanuel College took both games of an NCAA Softball doubleheader, by scores of 9-0 and 14-1, over host Pine Manor College on Saturday afternoon at Pine Manor Field in Chestnut Hill, MA. With the pair of victories the Saints improve to 7-11 overall (2-4 GNAC) while the Gators drop to 0-4 early in the season.

The Saints jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the top half of the first inning of game one, when starting pitcher Kelly Lloid (Issaquah, WA) put down a perfectly placed bunt single to bring Catherine Davis (Wethersfield, CT), who led off the inning with a single to right, around to score.

The Saints struck again in the top half of the second inning. With one away, Kerianne Vulpis (East Rockaway, NY) reached first on a one–out bunt single; Vulpis then stole second to put herself in scoring position. Jenna Marcello (Hopedale, MA) then followed with a double to the left-centerfield gap to give Emmanuel a 2-0 lead.

Lloid retired the Gators in order in the second and third inning as the Emmanuel starter would cruise all the way to the fifth inning before surrendering a hit to improve her record to 4-4 on the season with a one hit, ten strikeout performance. Lloid also helped her own cause at the plate, going 3-for-5 while driving in three runs out of the third spot in the lineup.

Lloid and the top of the Emmanuel order did the damage for the Saints in game one as the leadoff hitter Davis finished with four hits and a pair of RBIs, while the number two hitter Jennifer Garrity (Lynn, MA) drove in three on two hits.

Davis singled to help the Saints manufacture another run in the fourth inning before Emmanuel was finally able to put together a pair of innings in the sixth and seventh, scoring three runs in both innings to take a commanding 9-0 victory.

Pine Manor leftfielder Samantha Jones (Springfield, MA) recorded the lone Gator hit in game one when she line a ball back up the middle with one out in the fifth inning. Pine Manor starter Tia Nelson (Rockport, MA) dropped to 0-3 on the season, striking out five batters while pitching all seven innings.

In game two, Emmanuel tagged Pine Manor starter Macayla Kirylo (Pawtucket, RI) for five runs in the game’s first two innings. The big blow come in the top of the second when Marcello hit a two-run home run over the left field wall to make the Emmanuel lead 5-0. Nelson came on in relief in the second inning of game two, scattering five hits and one run over five innings as Emmanuel took a 6-0 lead into the bottom of the sixth inning.

In the home half of the sixth inning of game two, Sybil Lynch (Hoboken, NJ) reached base via a one out bunt single to give PMC its first base runner since the fourth inning when Nelson roped a single into left field. Nelson finished game two 2-for-3 at the plate.

Lynch and Chardonai Rose (Fairfield, CA) then traded places on the base paths by virtue of a fielder’s choice before Rose made her way to second on a wild pitch. With Rose in scoring position, Kirylo sent a single to centerfield to give PMC its first run of the day. However, the Pine Manor rally would end one batter later when Nelson grounded out to third.

In the bottom half of the inning, Emmanuel would break open game, scoring eight runs on six hits and three Pine Manor errors to take the 14-1 victory. Lloid once again did the damage for the Saints, driving in two of her three game two RBIs in the seventh inning. Lloid also finished game two 3-for-5 to finish 6-for-10 on the day. Davis tacked on two more hits in game two to also finish the day 6-for-10.

Emmanuel’s game two starter, Val Kiers (West Warwick, RI) also drove in three runs on three hits while going the distance in the circle, striking out six, to improve her record to 3-5 on the season. PMC starter Macayla Kirylo drops to 0-1 on the season.

Emmanuel will now look to Monday and matchup at Norwich University. The Gators will back in action on Wednesday afternoon when they host the Daniel Webster College Eagles for a doubleheader beginning at 3:00 PM.

WESTON, Mass. – A pair of freshmen helped lead Regis College to a doubleheader sweep of Pine Manor College by scores of 5-2 and 6-5 on Wednesday night in non-conference action in Weston, Mass. The Pride improves to 3-9 on the year, while Pine Manor falls to 0-2.

Katie Cuozzo (Lynn, Mass.) picked up her first collegiate win for the Pride in game one, tossing seven innings and scattering eight hits and two earned runs while striking out nine. In game two, Raegan Heck (Phillipston, Mass.) hit a walk-off single in the bottom of the seventh inning with two outs and the bases loaded to give the Pride the double-dip sweep.

Pine Manor struck first in the opening game as Samantha Jones (Springfield, Mass.) led off the top off the third on a double down the leftfield line and advanced to third on the throw back into the infield. Jones came around to score later in the inning on an RBI groundout by Sybil Lynch (Hoboken, N.J.) that gave the Gators an early 1-0 lead.

Pine Manor’s Tia Nelson (Rockport, Mass.) kept the Pride off the board for the first four innings, allowing only four hits. The Pride finally entered the scoring column in the fifth inning as Kelsey Heath (Lowell, Mass.) reached on an error by the centerfielder and then advanced to second when her throw to first went wide of its mark. Heath stole third and came around to score when Kirbie Garvey (Littleton, Mass.) hit a groundball to shortstop and forced a bad throw, reaching on the error, and tying the score at 1-1. Kara Donovan (Woburn, Mass.) picked up her first RBI of the day to drive in Garvey with a single to rightfield that gave the Pride its first lead at 2-1.

The Gators knotted the score at 2-2 as Chardonai Rose (Fairfield, Calif.) tripled to rightfield and scored on an RBI double by Macayla Kirylo (Pawtucket, R.I.), pictured above, with one out in the sixth. Cuozzo struck out the next batter she faced, but Tia Nelson reached on an infield single to put runners on the corners with two outs. During the next PMC at bat, Nelson broke for second trying to draw a throw from the Pride’s Shannon Bradish (Lawrence, Mass.). Bradish came up firing, but right to Regis second baseman Michaela NeJaime (Sandisfield, Mass.), who threw the ball back home in time to nail Kirylo and end the inning.

Haley Fountain led off the home half of the sixth with a walk, and pinch runner Laurie DeMars (Maynard, Mass.) came around to score on an RBI single to rightfield from Jill Bruning (Medford, Mass.) that gave the Pride a 3-2 lead. Bruning later scored on an RBI double from Heath, and the Pride added their last run of the day on a Garvey RBI single through the left side. With a 5-2 lead, Cuozzo got through the seventh inning unscathed and held on for her first collegiate win.

Kara Donovan and Jill Bruning combined to go 4-for-7 at the plate in the opening game with a pair of RBI.  Kelsey Heath went 1-for-3 with an RBI and a pair of runs scored. The Gators were led by 2-for-3 days from Kirylo and Tia Nelson. Nelson fell to 0-1 on the year, allowing five runs (three earned) on eight hits in six innings of work.

Regis scored first in game two as Kirbie Garvey led off the bottom of the first with a triple and came around to score on a sacrifice fly by Haley Fountain (Warren, Mass.). Pine Manor tied it up in the top of the third with an RBI walk from Kaylyn Delgado (Worcester, Mass.), but the Pride tacked on another run in their half of the third when Garvey tripled over the rightfielder’s head for the second time and scored when the second baseman could not handle the cutoff throw, giving the Pride a 2-1 lead.

In the bottom of the fourth, Regis grabbed a short-lived 3-1 advantage as Jill Bruning doubled to the gap in right-center, scoring Alyssa McKinnon (Raynham, Mass.) who had singled to lead off the inning. Pine Manor answered in the top of the fifth as Kirylo singled to shortstop and drove in Sybil Lynch to make it a one run game.

With their backs against the wall, Pine Manor tied the game in the top of the seventh as Sybil Lynch led off the inning with a single to short and advanced to second on a bad throw. Chardonai Rose doubled over the rightfielder’s head to plate Lynch and knot the score at 3-3. Macayla Kirylo followed with an RBI double of her own to score Rose and give the Gators their first lead of the game. After two quick outs, Pine Manor added one more run as Kirylo scored on an RBI single by Betzy Maysonet-Urbina (Boston, Mass.) and took a 5-3 lead headed into the bottom of the seventh.

After a groundout to open the inning, Kelsey Heath doubled down the line in left to put a runner in scoring position with one out. A dropped pop-up by the Gators allowed Heath to advance to third and Garvey to reach first. Garvey later stole second, and after a walk to Haley Fountain that loaded the bases, senior tri-captain Kara Donovan stepped to the plate and ripped a two-RBI single through the left side that scored Heath and Garvey and tied the score at 5-5.

After a wild pitch allowed the runners to move up a base, McKinnon drew a walk to load the bases. Jill Bruning hit a groundball to first and Delgado came home with the throw to nail the runner and preserve the 5-5 tie. Rookie catcher Raegan Heck stepped to the plate and lined an 0-2 offering to centerfield, where it dropped and allowed Kara Donovan to score the winning run.

Kirbie Garvey led the Pride attack with two triples in a 2-for-3 day with a walk, an RBI, and three runs scored. Seven other Pride batters recorded at least one hit in the win. Haley Fountain (2-4) picked up the victory, allowing four runs (two earned) on seven hits in 4.1 innings with eight strikeouts.

Macayla Kirylo went 3-for-4 at the dish, while Sybil Lynch went 2-for-3 with a pair of runs scored. Tia Nelson dropped her second decision of the day, allowing nine hits and six runs (three earned) over 6.2 innings.

The Pride get right back to action on Thursday afternoon when Regis hosts Becker College in a New England Collegiate Conference doubleheader scheduled for 3:00 p.m. Pine Manor will looks for its first win of the year on Saturday when the Gators host Emmanuel College beginning at noon. Tomorrow's doubleheader at Anna Maria College has been postponed due to field conditions. 

Courtesy of Regis Athletic Communications

CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. -- Snow and winter weather has forced the postponment of both Pine Manor College Softball doubleheaders scheduled for this weekend. Pine Manor Softball's doubleheader at Regis College (3/23) and the Gators' home doubleheader versus U. Maine - Presque Isle (3/24) have both been POSTPONED. The doubleheaders have been rescheduled for the following times:

The Gators will now take on Regis on Wednesday, March 27 in Weston, MA. First pitch for game one will be at 5:00 PM.

Me. - Presque Isle will now travel to Chestnut Hill, MA to take on the Gators on Saturday, April 6. Game one will begin at 11:00 AM.

Thursday's (3/21) postponed doubleheader versus Fisher College will now take place on Saturday, April 13 with game one beginning at 12 noon.

For the complete up-to-date PMC Softball schedule, click here.

BOSTON, Mass. -- Pine Manor College dropped both games of a Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) softball doubleheader to Suffolk University on Saturday April 21 at Popoulo Field in Boston, MA. Suffolk rallied to erase a 7-0 lead to win game one, 8-7, before holding on for a 5-4 victory in game two. 

The Rams overcame a 7-0 deficit in the opener which was highlighted by a walkoff home run by sophomore Erin McAndrews (Marblehead, Mass.) as Suffolk opened with an 8-7 victory.

McAndrews hit a two-run blast with one out in the bottom of the seventh, her second homer of the day as the Rams score eight unanswered runs over the final three innings for the victory

McAndrews finished game one 2-for-4 with four RBI while freshman Alicia Gonnella (Bridgewater, N.J.) knocked in a pair and also picked up the win on the mound in relief pitching the final three innings for Suffolk.

The Gators jumped out early in the top half of the first inning as they plater a pair of runs. Senior Tara Doehler (Lakeville, Mass.) opened the contest reaching on an infield error, and came around to score as she was knocked in with a triple by sophomore Ashley Carusone (Nashua, N.H.). Sophomore Macayla Kirylo (Pawtucket, R.I.) would add an RBI double later on in the inning.

Junior Kaylyn Delgado (Worcester, Mass.) drove in her first run of the contest with a two-out RBI single in the third as the Gators built a 3-0 lead.

Carusone tacked on another run in the Gators' fifth with her second extra base hit of the day, this time a double that scored Doehler who opened the inning with a walk.

Home runs by freshman Samantha Jones (Springfield, Mass.) in the fourth, and a two-run blast by Delgado in the sixth would help pace a Gators attack that saw nine of their hits lead to extra bases.

Suffolk would start chipping away at the lead the bottom of the fifth. Gonnella drove in their first run on a fielder's choice before a double by junior Mandi Thorton (Methuen, Mass.) would lead to their second run of the inning.

A four-run sixth inning would setup for the drama in the seventh as freshman Nicole Rosa (Wallingford, Conn.) led the inning off with a single. McAndrews then hit her second home run of the season to make it a 7-4 game.

Sophomore Nikki Cignarella (Norwood, Mass.) quickly added a single and then came around to score later in the inning as the Rams' took advantage of one of five Gators' errors in the contest. Gonnella capped the scoring off with an RBI single following later in the inning.

Gonnella retired seven of the final eight hitters she faced, with the lone baserunner coming off a dropped third strike. She moved to a 5-3 record on the hill for the Rams.

The Rams narrowly escaped game two with a 5-4 victory as freshman Sarah Chasse (Salem, Mass.) locked down her fourth save of the year.

Suffolk opened the game scoring three times in the first inning as Nicole Rosa, Erin McAndrews and sophomore Samatha McGilvray (Brighton, Mass.) all provided RBI's for Suffolk.

The Gators would quickly answer however in the top of the second as senior Beth Deegan (Philadelphia, Pa.) hit Pine Manor's third home run of the day, a two-run blast that cut the Suffolk lead to 3-2.

In the bottom of the fifth, the Rams would add some needed insurance scoring twice. Following back to back singles to start the inning by McAndrews and Cignarella, senior Karina Bolster (Carlisle, Pa.) set the Rams up with a sacrifice bunt. McAndrews would score in the following at-bat on a wild pitch, and McGilvray added her second RBI of the game with a sacrifice fly to left.

Beth Deegan would add an RBI single in the Pine Manor sixth to set up a scary seventh inning for the Rams.

Entering the seventh with a 5-3 lead, back to back singles would chase Gonnella from the game and bring in Chasse to the mound for the Rams. After back to back strike outs, Macayla Kirylo singled to make it a one-run game and allowing the go-ahead run to reach base. A wild pitch would then give the Gators two runners in scoring position with two outs, but Chasse would seal the victory for the Rams with a punchout as she punched out the side for her fourth save of the year.

Junior Tia Nelson (Rockport, Mass.) was a perfect 4-for-4 at the plate for the Gators in game two as she helped pace a 10-hit attacked. Deegan was 2-for-3 with three RBI.

The loss droped Pine Manor to a 7-17 mark in both overall and GNAC season play. Saturday's double header concluded the 2012 season for the Gators.

Special Thanks to Suffolk Sports Information

Box Scores: Game 1 | Game 2

CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. -- Pine Manor College senior Kayla Provost (Saco, ME) delivered an RBI single in the top of the seventh inning to secure a 3-2 victory over Simmons College in game two of a Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) doubleheader on Friday afternoon in Chestnut Hill, MA. Simmons freshmen Lauren Backhaus (Windsor, CT) pitched a shutout to help Simmons earn the victory 3-0 in game one.

In the first game, the Sharks took 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second. Alaina DeNoncour (Johnston, R.I.) singled to right center to start the inning and Christina Mulcahy (Cambridge, Mass.) reached on a fielder’s choice. Jen Field (Windham, Maine) singled to advance Mulcahy to third and hard hit double by Cailin Pagel (Dorchester, Mass.) sent Mulcahy across home plate.

The Gators had an opportunity to tie the game in the fourth with two on base off a Kayla Provost (Saco, ME) walk and singled by Macayla Kirylo (Pawtucket, RI). But Sharks pitcher Lauren Backhaus (Windsor, Conn.) got the strikeout to end the inning.

In the bottom of the fourth, DeNoncour hit a line drive single through the right side to start the Sharks offense. Mulcay hit a perfectly placed sacrifice bunt down the third base line to advance DeNoncour to second. Pagel singled up the middle and picked up her second RBI of the day, giving the Sharks at 2-0 lead.

Hannah Cunningham (Cotuit, Mass.) reached second on an error by the right fielder before Katie McCarthy (Falmouth, Maine) singled to drive in the Sharks final run of the game.

The Gators had three hits in the top of the seventh to load the bases off singles by Kirylo, Kaylyn Delgado (Worcester, MA) and Beth Deegan (Philadelphia, PA) but Backhaus struck out two and the Sharks defense ended the inning for the win, 3-0.

In the second game, the Gators scored two runs in the first inning for an early lead. Tara Doehler (Lakeville, MA) doubled and then scored off a single by Ashley Carusone (Nashua, NH). Delgado doubled to left field to drive in Carusone before Mulcahy made a running catch in right field to end the inning.

The Sharks cut the lead to one in the second when Ari King (Westford, Mass.) singled up the middle and later scored off an error by the pitcher. After a scoreless third inning, Simmons tied the game at two in the fourth. King doubled through the left side and scored on an error by the shortstop.

The game remained tied until the top of the seventh. Jamie Northup reached first on walk and was replaced with pinch runner Samira Lopes. Carusone singled up the middle and Provost singled to right field to move Lopes around the bases and take the lead 3-2. The Sharks had the tying run on base in the bottom of the seventh off a double by Emily Cunningham (Cotuit, Mass.) but were unable to convert, falling 3-2.

Tia Nelson (Rockport, MA) recorded the win for Pine Manor while Amanda Cordiero (Fall River, Mass.) took the loss.

The Sharks (22-13, 18-6 GNAC) return to action on Saturday, April 21st at Rivier College for a GNAC doubleheader beginning at 1:00 p.m. The Gators (8-16) host Suffolk University on the same date at 12:00 p.m.

Special Thanks to Simmons Sports Information 

Box Scores: Game 1 | Game 2

CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. – Johnson & Wales University sophomore Taylor Cwalinski (Jackson, NJ) no-hit Pine Manor in game one as part of a JWU sweep during of a Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) softball doubleheader on Sunday afternoon in Chestnut Hill, MA. Cwalinski struck out ten batters, walking only one over seven shutout innings for a 4-0 victory. In game two, classmate Tayla Gardner (Orangeburg, NY) nearly pitched a no-hitter of her own, surrendering only one hit in a 2-0 JWU victory.

Cwalinski was perfect the first time through the Pine Manor order. In the bottom of the fourth PMC senior Tara Doehler (Lakeville, MA) drew a leadoff walk to give Pine Manor its only base runner of the game. Doehler would advance to second on a sacrifice bunt before stealing third but the Gators were unable to drive her home, as Cwalinski continued to cruise and retired the side.

Cwalinski helped her own cause in the top of the seventh inning, hitting a two-RBI double to help JWU take a 4-0 lead into the bottom of the seventh. From there, the sophomore from Jackson, NJ then put down the Gators 1-2-3 to wrap-up the 4-0 victory. Cwalinksi had three RBIs in game one, as she also drove home a run with a groundout to short in the first inning to make the score 1-0.

In game two, Johnson and Wales sent Gardner to the circle and nearly received a repeat performance. After hitting a home run in game one, Gardner struck out 11 batters over seven shutout innings for a 2-0 victory in game two. Gardner took a no-hitter into the sixth inning, but PMC senior Beth Deegan (Philadelphia, PA) beat out an infield single to give Pine Manor its first hit of the day. However, JWU then executed a strike ‘em out- throw ‘em out double play to end the PMC threat in the home half of the sixth.

PMC senior Kayla Provost reached base in the bottom of the seventh thanks to a JWU error, but PMC would ultimately strand the runner as the drop game two by a 2-0 score.

With the pair of losses, the Gators drop to 7-15 overall in GNAC play. Meanwhile Johnson & Wales improves to 22-14 and 15-7 in conference action. Pine Manor will now look to Friday, April 20 and a pair of games in Chestnut Hill versus Simmons College.

CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. -- Pine Manor senior Tara Doehler (Lakeville, MA) pitched 14 shutout innings to lead Pine Manor to a sweep of visiting Anna Maria College during a Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) doubleheader on Saturday, April 14, 2012 in Chestnut Hill, MA. With the pair of wins, Pine Manor improves to 7-13 overall and in the conference.

In game one, the Gators took an early 1-0 lead in the first inning as Provost singled to score Doehler. That was all that Doehler would need as she was perfect the first time through the Anna Maria order, before surrendering a single to Anna Maria junior Tabitha Ruggeri (Sturbridge, ME) to open the fourth inning. However, PMC catcher Kayla Provost (Saco, ME) would gun down Ruggeri as she attempted to steal second before Doehler retired the next two batters of the inning. The single would be the only blemish for Doehler in game one as she faced the minimum 21 batters in the game, surrendering one hit and striking out four for her fourth victory of the season.

PMC would add another run in the fourth inning when sophomore Ashley Carusone hit a solo home run to lead-off the fourth inning as Pine Manor took a 2-0 victory in game one.

In game two, Doehler continued to cruise, this time surrendering four hits and one walk, while striking out five over seven shutout innings. Pine Manor supplied more run support in game two, once again taking an early lead in the first, this time 2-0, on a two-RBI single by Provost.

The Gators added three runs on two hits and an Anna Maria error in the fourth, with Carusone driving in two more runs before Provost doubled to drive in her fourth run of the day. PMC added two more runs in the fifth inning as two runs scored on an Anna Maria error to make the score 7-0. Anna Maria would go down in order in the sixth inning, before stranding a runner in the seventh to fall 7-0 in game two.

Pine Manor will now host Johnson and Wales University tomorrow at 11:00 a.m. The game will be senior day, with the ceremony taking place prior to game one.

NORTHFIELD, Vermont -- Seniors Tara Doehler (Lakeville, MA), Kayla Provost (Saco, ME) and Beth Deegan (Philadelphia, PA) all homered to lead Pine Manor to a 10-8 victory over Norwich Univeristy in game one of a Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) doubleheader on Wednesday afternoon in Northfield, VT. In game two, the Cadets rallied to score two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to take a 7-6 victory and earn the split.

Norwich freshman Kelly Travers (Whitman, Mass.) had a breakout performance as the shortstop/outfielder belted four home runs to help the Norwich earn the split. Travers went a combined 6-for-8 with two home runs in each game to go along with seven RBIs and four runs scored for the Cadets (15-11, 10-8 GNAC). Pine Manor (5-13, 5-13 GNAC) and Norwich combined for an offensive slugfest over the course of the two games. Each team hit five home runs and they totaled 46 hits between the two games.

In game one, Doehler went the distance in the circle for the Gators while also collecting four hits from the leadoff spot, including a two-run home run in the fourth inning that gave Pine Manor a 4-2 lead at the time.

The Gators scored in every inning but the second, taking the lead for good in the top of the sixth inning as they scored three runs on four hits and two Norwich errors to pull ahead 9-8. Pine Manor would add an insurance run in the top of the seventh when Provost homered to give the Gators the 10-8 advantage. Provost's homer was the third of the game for PMC, as Deegan also hit her first career home run in the fifth inning.

In the bottom of the seventh, Norwich wasted a leadoff double as Doehler put the next three batters down in order to secure the 10-8 win.

In game two, the Gators and Cadets exchanged runs in the third and fourth innings as the teams moved into the fifth inning tied at 2-2.

In the bottom of the fifth, Norwich pushed across another run to take a 3-2 lead before Pine Manor put together four hits and scored four runs in the top of the sixth. Ashley Carusone (Nashua, NH) led off the inning with a double before Provost followed with single. With runners on the corners, the Gators then executed a double-steal as Carsuone took home to tie the game while Provost moved to second. With Provost on second, sophomore Macayla Kirylo (Pawtucket, RI) hit a two-run home run. Just one batter later, junior Tia Nelson (Rockport, MA) hit a solo shot to make the score 6-3 Pine Manor.

Norwich then scored two runs in the bottom half of the sixth, thanks to the final of Travers' four home runs, to pull within one run at 6-5. Pine Manor then went down in order in the top of the seventh before Norwich came to the plate with one last chance in the seventh.

In the home half of the frame, Norwich rallied to take the game, 7-6, courtesy of a two-out bases-loaded single back through the middle by freshman Corinne Baita (Rochester, N.H.) that plated sophomore catcher Abby Belcher (Winthrop, Mass.).

Pine Manor will now return home for the weekend. The Gators will host Anna Maria College on Saturday at 12 noon before they host Johnson & Wales on Senior Day at 11:00 a.m. Sunday.

Box Scores: Game 1 | Game 2

STANDISH, Maine -- Saint Joseph's College of Maine took both games of a Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) doubleheader over Pine Manor College on Monday afternoon in Standish, ME. The Monks defeated Pine Manor 9-1 in 5 innings in game one before defeating the Gators 11-1 in 5 innings in game two.

Pine Manor opened the scoring in game one, as Kaylyn Delgado (Worcester, Mass.) plated Macayla Kirylo (Pawtucket, R.I.) with a double to give the Gators a 1-0 lead. From that point forward Saint Joseph's (ME) scored a combined 20 unanswered runs in game one and two.

Saint Joe's took the lead for good in the bottom of the first inning, scoring when Connie Grovo (Limington, Maine) singled and Emily Leverone (Hampton, N.H.) walked before both runners scored when Heather Tripp (Lovell, Maine) reached on an error by Pine Manor right fielder Natasha Kopystynsky (Johnsburg, Ill.).

Saint Joseph’s added two more runs in the bottom of the third before putting the game out of reach in the bottom of the fourth, scoring five runs off three hits and three Pine Manor errors to take a 9-1 lead before winning in five innings due to the run-rule.

In game two, the Monks continued to score runs and take advantage of Pine Manor's mistakes. Saint Joe's socred three runs on four hits in the first inning before adding two runs on two PMC errors in the third inning.

Already leading 5-0, Saint Joe's added six runs on two hits and four Pine Manor errors in the fourth inning, sending 11 batters to the plate to help them take an 11-0 advantage.

In the bottom of the fifth, Pine Manor collected its second hit of the contest when Beth Deegan (Philadelphia, PA) singled to left field. Deegan would come around to score and break the shut out on a error by Saint Joe's, but the Gaotrs would get no closer, dropping game two 11-1 in five innings.

Pine Manor will now travel to Norwich University on Wednesday afternoon for a GNAC doubleheader beginning at 3:00 p.m.

CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. -- A seventh inning rally came up short in game one as Pine Manor College dropped a 7-6 decision in game one before capturing a 16-9 victory in game two versus Mount Ida on Saturday afternoon as part of a Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) doubleheader in Newton, MA. With the win in game two the Gators improve to 4-10 overall and in the conference.

With Pine Manor trailing 7-3 entering the final frame in game one, sophomore Ashley Carusone (Nashua, NH)singled with one out before stealing second. A walk by classmate Macayla Kirylo (Pawtucket, RI), pictured above, gave Pine Manor two on with two-out beofre junior Kaylyn Delgado (Worcester, MA) delivered a three-run home run to pull the Gaotrs to within one before a strikeout retired the side and Mout Ida capture the game one victory.

In game two, the Gaotrs picked up where the left off, as Delgado, Kirylo and Carusone all hit home runs and the Gators drove in 16 runs on 18 hits as seven different players had multi-hit games for Pine Manor. The Gators scored six runs in the second and seven runs in the seventh as they scored at least one run in every inning but the third to take the game two victory 16-9.

Pine Manor will now travel to Standish, ME on Monday to take on Saint Joseph's in a make-up game for the game that was postponed on March 28.

Box Scores: Game 1 | Game 2

CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. – Albertus Magnus College used a seven run eighth inning to defeat Pine Manor, 11-6, in game one before earning a 9-1 victory in six innings over the Gators in game two to earn a sweep of PMC in a Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) doubleheader on Friday afternoon in Chestnut Hill, MA.

With the Gators trailing 4-3 entering the bottom of the seventh inning, PMC sophomore Ashley Carusone (Nashua, NH) hit an opposite field solo home run over the right field fence to tie the score at 4-4 and rally the Gators back from a 4-1 deficit. Carusone’s game-tying home run came just an inning after PMC scored two runs on four hits, including an RBI double by Kaylyn Delgado (Worcester, MA), to close the gap to 4-3.

In the top of the eighth inning, Albertus sophomore Melissa Manning was placed on second thanks to the tie-breaker rule and before the end of the inning, Manning and six other Falcons would come around to score on five Albertus hits and one Pine Manor error. Three different Albertus players collected two-RBI hits in the inning with the first coming from freshmen Brittney Urciuoli (Newington, CT), who hit an RBI single to make the score 6-4. Later in the inning, classmate Elaina Maio (West Haven, CT) hit a two-RBI double to centerfield before Aimee Mirto (Hamden, CT), another Albertus freshmen, hit a two-RBI double to increase the Gator deficit to 11-4.

In the bottom half of the inning, Pine Manor was only able to get back two runs. After being placed on second, Senior Kayla Provost (Saco, ME) advanced to third thanks to a throwing error on an attempted pick-off before junior Tia Nelson (Rockport, MA) hit a home run to straight-away centerfield to make the score 11-6. However, the final two Pine Manor batters of the inning would go quietly as the Falcons earned the 11-6 victory.

In game two, Albertus starter Danielle Thureling (Wallingford, CT) would get more support than she needed, as the Falcons won 9-1 in six innings thanks to the run rule. After earning the win in game one, Thureling struck out six over her second complete game of the day to improve her overall record to 7-10 during her freshmen campaign. Pine Manor was able to scatter six hits over six innings against Thuerling with the only damage coming in the third thanks to an RBI single from sophomore Macayla Kirylo(Pawtucket, RI).

Albertus sent runners across the plate in the third, fourth and sixth innings, with the big-blow of the game coming during the third when Manning hit a towering three-run home run to centerfield that at the time gave the Falcons the 4-0 advantage. While Pine Manor would add one in the bottom half of the inning, the Falcons would counter to make the score 7-1 after four innings of play.

The Falcons would add two more in the sixth, capped by another RBI double by Maio to take the 9-1 advantage. In the bottom half of the inning the Gators could only manage a double from Kirylo as the contest ended in six innings.

Pine Manor will now look to tomorrow afternoon and a doubleheader at Mount Ida College, while Albertus will also be in action as they travel north to take on Norwich University in Northfield, VT. Both doubleheaders are scheduled for 1:00 p.m.

Box Scores: Game 1 | Game 2

CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. – Pine Manor College senior Kayla Provost (Saco, ME) hit a solo home run for the one-hundredth hit of her career in game two of Sundays Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) doubleheader, but the visiting Rivier College Raiders defeated Pine Manor 10-2 in game one and 11-1 game two to complete a Sunday afternoon sweep of the Gators. Rivier won both games in run-rule shortened five inning contests to improve their overall record to 16-4 and 9-3 in GNAC play. Pine Manor now sits at 3-7 overall and in the conference.

Rivier leadoff hitter Nicole Peacock (Warwick, RI) set the tone early in the day, leading off game one with a triple to deep right centerfield. From there the Raiders would proceed to collect four more hits in the first inning that, when combined with three Pine Manor errors and seven Rivier stolen bases, helped the visitors to push across seven runs to take a commanding 7-0 lead after the first.

In the bottom of the first, Pine Manor responded with two runs of their own. With one-out in the inning, sophomore Ashley Carusone (Nashua, NH) drew a walk, which was quickly followed by a single from Provost. The 99th hit of Provost’s career moved Carusone to second, where she then scored on an RBI single from classmate Macayla Kirylo ( Pawtucket, RI). With runners on the corners, Kirylo was then thrown out attempting to steal but the throw to second allowed Provost to sneak down the third base line and steal home and make the score 7-2..

Now leading 7-2, Rivier came back to plate in the top of the second inning a seized the momentum right back from Pine Manor. A one-out single from junior Amanda Thornton (Hanover, MA) got the rally started for the Raiders. Thornton then stole second before a walk to starting pitcher Lauren Beatty (Sherman,CT) put two on, with one out, for Rivier. Both runners then advanced thanks to a wild pitch before an RBI groundout from Karen Waterman (Rutland, VT) made the score 8-2. A single by freshmen Samantha Verney (Goffstown, NH) then plated Thornton to make the score 9-2 before an RBI double from Samantha Gagnon subsequently scored Verney to make the score 10-2 in favor of Rivier.

Pine Manor would manage to have a runner reach base in the next three innings but was unable to push across another run as the game ended in five innings due to the eight run rule.

In game two, Peacock once again led off the game with a hit and Rivier once again took an early lead. Rivier scored two runs on three hits in the first inning, as the Raiders scored in every inning of game two except the third.

With Pine Manor trailing 2-0 in the bottom of the first inning, Beatty recorded two quick outs before surrendering a solo home run to Provost that sailed over the left field fence for the 100th hit in her collegiate career.

Rivier then responded in the second inning, just as they had done in game one, to distance themselves from PMC with a four run inning. Sophomore Catherine Roy singled to drive in the first run of the inning, as the Raiders put together three consecutive singles and used a Pine Manor error to build their advantage to 6-1. All of the Rivier runs in the second inning came with two outs. Rivier than tacked on another run in the fourth inning, thanks to a home run from junior Marrisa Mercier (North Smithfield, RI), to take a 7-1 advantage.

In the top of the fifth, Rivier put the game away with another four run inning. The big hit once again come from Mercier, as she singled with the bases loaded, clearing the bases to give the Raiders the 11-1 advantage. From there, Beatty would close out the game for her second win of the day for Rivier.

Pine Manor will return to action on Friday when they play host to Albertus Magnus College at 3:00 p.m. in Chestnut Hill, MA. While, Rivier will play cross-town rival Daniel Webster College on Thursday afternoon in Nashua, NH.

Boston, Mass. -- Emerson College scored ten unanswered runs to take an 11-1 victory in game one, in six innings, before defeating Pine Manor 6-2 in game two of a Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) softball doubleheader on Saturday evening at The Field at Rotch Playground in Boston, MA.

In game one, Emerson got out to an early 1-0 lead when Kelsey Tuthill (Middlefield, CT) singled to drive home Bianca Buono (El Cajon, CA) after Buono had reached base thanks to a single earlier in the inning. Pine Manor then went in order in the bottom of the first, while Emerson went scoreless in the top of the second.

Facing a 1-0 deficit, Pine Manor sophomore Macayla Kirylo (Pawtucket, RI) opened the bottom of the second with a leadoff single. Following a Pine Manor strikeout, junior Kaylyn Delgado (Worcester, MA) then notched a one-out single to move Kirylo into scoring position. With runners on first and second, Samira Lopes (Boston, MA) grounded into a fielders choice, reaching base safely as the Emerson defense cut down Kirylo at third. With two-on and two-out, PMC freshmen Samantha Jones then crushed a ground-rule double, her first collegiate hit, into the left-centerfield gap to plate Delgado and tie the game.

However, from that point forward game one was all Emerson. The Lions responded with two runs in the top of the third inning, thanks to a two-RBI single from sophomore Alexandra Magistro (Hackettstwon, NJ). Emerson would then collect runs in each of the remaining innings, scoring three in the fourth, one in the fifth and four in the sixth inning. The four-run sixth inning, capped by a three-run shot from freshmen Nikki Delaney (San Mateo, CA), gave Emerson an 11-1 advantage.

In the bottom of the sixth, Pine Manor managed only one base runner before Emerson retired the side to win the game by virtue of the eight run rule.

In game two, Magistro started in the circle for Emerson and was nearly untouchable for the Lions, surrenduring only three hits and one earned run while striking out 13 batters in a 6-2 Emerson win.

The teams played scoreless through the first three innings before Magistro helped her own cause with an RBI double to right centerfield. However, Pine Manor would respond in the bottom half of the inning to tie the score at 1-1, just as they had done in game one.

In the bottom of the fourth, the Gators loaded the bases thanks to two walks and an error, bringing Lopes to the plate with two outs. Lopes then grounded a ball back to the pitcher but reached safely at first base. Meanwhile sophomore Ashley Carsusone (Nashua, NH) raced down the line to score thanks to the indecision of Magistro, who made a late throw to home after deciding not to get the out at first base. Pine Manor would then leave the bases loaded, unable to capitilize on Emerson's mistakes.

The Lions would then score at least one run in the final three innings to take the 6-2 victory. Pine Manor would push across the second run of the day when senior Tara Doehler (Lakeville, MA) singled to plate Lopes. The hit was Doehler's third of the game as she was the only Gator who was able to reach base thanks to a hit in game two.

Both teams will have a quick turnaround as PMC will host Rivier at Pine Manor Field at 1:00 p.m. Sunday, while Emerson will also stay home to take on city rival Simmons College on Sunday as well.

Boston, Mass. -- Pine Manor College cruised to a 6-2 victory in game one before rallying for an 8-5 victory in game two of a Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) doubleheader vs. Emmanuel College on a cold Thursday evening in Boston, MA. With the pair of wins the Gators improve to 3-3 in GNAC play, while the Saints drop to 4-16 overall and 2-6 in the conference.

The Gators opened the scoring in the third inning of game one, scoring three runs on four hits to take a 3-0 advantage over the Saints. Senior Tara Doehler (Lakeville, MA) and sophomore Ashley Carusone (Nashua, NH) opened the inning with back-to-back singles, setting the table for a two-RBI double from senior Kayla Provost (Saco, ME). The next two Gator batters went down in order before junior Kaylyn Delgado (Worcester, MA) singled to drive home Provost for the 3-0 advantage. 

In the fifth inning, Pine Manor would tag on three more runs. With Carusone aboard again thanks to another single, Provost stepped into the box delivered another double to drive home the fourth Pine Manor run. With Provost on second, junior Tia Nelson knocked a one-out RBI single to score Provost and give the Gators a 5-0 lead. Pine Manor would add another run on an RBI groundout to the right side of the infield to score Nelson, as the Gators took a 6-0 lead into the bottom fifth of the fifth inning. 

Emmanuel was finally able to score a pair of runs on PMC starter Tara Doehler in the seventh inning, when sophomore Jennifer Garrity (Lynn, MA) hit a two-run home run, but Doehler was unfazed easily setting down Emmanuel to close out the inning and pick up her second victory of the season.

In game two, the Saints got out in front early, scoring a run in the bottom of the first. The lead was short lived as Pine Manor knotted the score in the top of the second after another hit from Delgado and a Saints throwing error. Delgado finished the night with five hits.

In the home half of the second, the Saints added two more runs when third baseman Kayla Howard (Belmont, N.H.) singled and freshman Alexandra Bressette (North Easton, Mass.) drove the ball deep over the centerfield fence to give Emmanuel a 3-1 edge.  The Saints then scored again in the third to go up, 4-1.

With Pine Manor trailing 4-1 in the third inning, Nelson entered the game in relief of Doehler. Inducing a ground ball to short after Provost picked-off a runner at third and allowing the Gators to head to the fourth still within three runs of the Saints.

Pine Manor bounced back in the top of the fourth, when Provost homered for her 4th hit of the night.  The Gators scored again in the fifth, when Carusone hit a two-RBI homer to left centerfield and knotted the score at 4-all. Provost is now just two hits shy of 100 for her collegiate career. 

A scoreless fifth for the Saints led to a three-run sixth for Pine Manor, as Delgado and Nelson both singled and the Gators took advantage of a pair of wild pitches to take a 7-4 lead.  Emmanuel got one more back in the sixth, when freshman Julia Demirali (West Roxbury, MA) drove in a run to make the score 7-5.  However, Pine Manor scored again in the seventh, when Carusone tripled and and came home, making the score 8-5, thanks to the fifth RBI of the night by Provost.

Nelson earned the win for the Gators in game two, giving up just one hit in four and two thirds innings pitched, striking out five Saints.

Pine Manor will now look to this weekend and back-to-back home doubleheaders. On Saturday the Gators will host Emerson, beginning at 11 a.m. while on Sunday they will host Rivier beginning at 2:00 p.m.

Chestnut Hill, Mass.—Pine Manor senior Tara Doehler (Lakeville, MA) surrendered only two runs in a complete game effort to lead Pine Manor College to a game one win as part of a doubleheader with visiting Lasell College on Saturday afternoon at Pine Manor Field in Chestnut Hill, MA. In game two, Lasell rebounded to take 5-1 lead after three innings and held on to earn the split with a 7-5 victory over the Gators.

Lasell got on the board in the first inning of both games. In game one, the Lasers opened the scoring by pushing across one run as freshmen Denise Archetto (Cranston, RI) doubled to score junior Rachelle Haas from second base. The Gators then went quietly in the bottom half of the inning, as Lasell held the 1-0 lead until the second inning.

In the second, Pine Manor sophomore Macayla Kirylo (Pawtucket, RI) led off the inning with a walk. Junior Kaylyn Delgado (Worcester, MA) then singled for the Gators, putting two runners on with no one out. PMC sophomore Ashley Carusone (Nashua, NH) then hit into a fielder’s choice that knocked down Kirylo at third and left the Gators with runners remaining at first and second, this time with one out. Junior Tia Nelson then grounded a ball back to Lasell pitcher Cassie Wadden (Brookfiled, MA) but an errant throw to third, once again attempting to cut down the lead runner, allowed Delgado to score from second and tie the game at 1-1.

Lasell would get the run back in the fourth inning when junior Candice Hankard (Wakefield, MA) led off the inning with a solo home run, her first of the season, to give the Lasers a 2-1 advantage. However, the lead was short lived for the visitors as Pine Manor immediately responded in the home half of the inning.

Trailing 2-1, Kirylo and Delgado put together back-to-back singles to open the inning. A strikeout by Carusone then brought junior Tia Nelson (Rockport, MA) to the plate with the opportunity to bring the Gators back into the game. Nelson then doubled to drive home Kirylo and tie the score at 2-2. With runners on second and third, sophomore Christine Lowe (Elmhurst, NY) then singled to shallow right field, driving home Delgado, advancing Nelson to third base, while giving the Gators the 3-2 advantage.

From that point forward Doehler worked her way out of trouble in the final three innings, stranding four Lasell base runners over the final three frames, and earning her first victory of the season.

In game two, Pine Manor starter Tia Nelson (Rockport, MA) got off to a rocky start, surrendering five runs over the first two and third innings of the game before being relieved by Doehler in the third inning.

Lasell built a 5-1 lead in the early going of game two thanks to a first inning two-run home run by Archetto and the second home run of the day by Hankard, this time a three-run shot, in the third inning. An RBI double by Carusone in the bottom of the first inning helped Pine Manor to stay within reach as the teams moved to the bottom of the third with Pine Manor trailing 5-1.

In the home half of the third inning, an RBI double by senior Kayla Provost (Saco, ME) scored Carusone to cut the deficit to 5-2. Kirylo then singled for the Gators to drive home Provost and make the score 5-3 as the game moved to the fourth inning.

In the top of the fourth, Lasell battled back to once again take a four run lead. Back-to-back singles by the Lasers opened the inning before Hankard once again came through for the Lasers, delivering a one-out two-RBI single to put the visitors ahead by a 7-3 margin.

In the fifth inning, PMC freshmen Samira Lopes (Boston, MA) delivered a pinch hit single before advancing to second on a wild pitch. Following a strike out by Doehler and a fly out to right field by Carusone, Provost doubled once again, this time driving home Lopes. With a wild pitch advancing Provost to third, Kirylo then delivered an RBI single to cut the deficit to 7-5.

Pine Manor would get no closer than 7-5, as the Gators went down in order in the final two innings and Lasell captured its first victory of the 2012 season – just as Pine Manor had in game one.

The Gators will now travel to Standish, ME to take on Saint Joseph’s College of Maine on Sunday at 2:00 p.m. Meanwhile Lasell returns home for a Sunday matinee versus local and GNAC rival Simmons College.

CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. – Pine Manor College dropped both games of its 2012 Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) season opening doubleheader to Saint Joseph College of Connecticut on Wednesday, March 21, 2012 in Chestnut Hill, MA. The Gators came up just short in game one, rallying from a 3-0 deficit to drop a 3-2 final. While, in game two Saint Joseph scored three runs on four Pine Manor errors in the seventh inning to put the game out of reach and take an 8-2 victory.

In game one, Saint Joseph took an early lead as leadoff hitter Nicole Williams (Middletown, CT) singled to center to open the game before coming around to score on another single by Saint Joseph junior Emily Hummel (Hebron, CT). Over the next three innings, Saint Joseph starting pitcher Kristina Torres (Groton, CT) was the story. The senior struck out seven of the first nine Pine Manor hitters to come to the plate, setting down the Gators in order through the first four innings of the game. Torres finished the game with 15 strikeouts and earned her second win of the season.

Saint Joseph extended its lead to 3-0 in the top of the third inning when sophomore Shauna Sullivan (Rocky Hill, CT) doubled to right centerfield to drive home Hummel and classmate Ashley Gall (Stafford Springs, CT).

Pine Manor would get on the board in the fifth inning, tacking on two runs to pull within reach of the Blue Jays. PMC sophomore Macayla Kirylo (Pawtucket, RI) led off the inning with a double to right-center before advance to third on a single by classmate Ashley Carusone (Nashua, NH). Two batters later, Pine Manor junior Tia Nelson (Rockport, MA) lined a single into the outfield to drive home both runners and make the score 3-2.

Unfortunately, from that point forward the Gators were unable to push across the tying run, as Carusone would pick up the only PMC hit, a two-out single in the bottom of the seventh, for the remainder of the game.

In game two, Pine Manor was once again unable to solve Saint Joseph’s pitching, this time as Hummel collected 15 strikeouts in a complete-game 8-2 victory.

With the game scoreless through the first three innings, Saint Joseph finally broke the drought with a three-run fourth inning. The Blue Jays then scored two more runs in the fifth inning to take a 5-0 lead thanks to a two-RBI double from Hummel.

Trailing once again, Pine Manor managed to score two runs in the sixth when Kirylo lined a two-run home run over the leftfield fence to cut the deficit to 5-2. However, the final two batters of the inning went down in order and the teams entered the seventh with the score still 5-2.

In the seventh, a series of Pine Manor errors helped the Blue Jays to score three more runs and take a six run advantage before the home half of the inning. Trailing 8-2, Nelson opened the inning with a leadoff double, but the Gators were unable to rally any closer as the final three batters went down in order to end the game.

With the sweep, Saint Joseph moves to 4-7 overall (2-0 GNAC) while Pine Manor drops to 0-2 (0-2 GNAC) to open the 2012 season. The Blue Jays will now head home for their next three contests, beginning with a GNAC doubleheader versus Emmanuel College on Saturday. Pine Manor will also return to action this Saturday, as the Gators will host Lasell College for a doubleheader beginning at 2:00 p.m.

Last season, Pine Manor Softball clinched a spot in the playoffs on the final day of the regular season with a doubleheader sweep of Norwich University, only to drop a tightly contested opening round game to eventual GNAC runner-up Rivier College by a 4-2 score. The 2012 edition of the Gators will be looking to make a return trip to the GNAC tournament this season, this time under the guidance of first-year head coach Ashley Bernstein.

“We want to pick up where the program left-off last season,” said Bernstein. “Right now that means taking things one game at a time and focusing on what we need to do to be successful. If we do that we will compete in every game and hopefully be back in the tournament like last season.”

Bernstein’s first task will be replacing the productivity of Third-Team All-GNAC selection Jess Kennedy and versatile infielder Michelle Campbell. Kennedy finished last season with a team-leading .375 average while starting every game in centerfield for the Gators. While, Campbell finished with a .313 average, playing in a variety of roles for the Gators and starting games at pitcher, catcher, and second base at different points during the season.

Fortunately for Pine Manor, the Gators return several key pieces from last season’s playoff team, including the starting battery of seniors Tara Doehler (Lakeville, MA) and Kayla Provost (Saco, ME). Doehler, who pitched over 150 innings while collecting 10 victories for the Gators in 2011, will likely see the majority of pitching duties for Pine Manor. She will also be joined in the circle by junior Tia Nelson (Rockport, MA), who pitched over 142 innings for the Gators as a freshman in 2010.

“It’s great for Kayla and Tara particularly in terms of chemistry,” said Bernstein. “I think that the consistency and the fact that Kayla knowing what kind of game Tara needs to throw are really important and will really benefit us.”

Provost, the team captain and a two-time All-Conference selection, will once again be called upon to play a key role for PMC both offensively and defensively. Provost collected a team-high 23 RBIs during the 2011 season, while also hitting five home runs, perhaps none more memorable than her walk-off grand slam to defeat Suffolk University in the first game of a doubleheader sweep on Saturday, April 9, 2011. Provost also finished second on the team with 30 hits in 2011, leaving her just eight shy of 100 in her career.

“Kayla is a great leader and I expect her to continue doing just that,” continued Bernstein. “We’re expecting big things from her and we hope that she can be a dominant hitter this season.”

The sweep of Suffolk came just a day before Ashley Carusone (Nashua, NH) hit another walk-off home run for the Gators to defeat Mount Ida in game one of another doubleheader sweep for the Gators.

Carsusone (left), who earned GNAC Rookie of the Week accolades following a weekend in which she hit .500 on the week going 8-16 at the plate with a double a triple and two home runs, will be asked to continue to help the Gator offense during her second season in Chestnut Hill.

“We really want Ashley to take full control of the infield,” said Bernstein. “She has tremendous range at shortstop and she is a real positive player, we expect her to take command defensively and become a leader on the team.”

Sophomore Macayla Kirylo (Pawtucket, RI) will also be called upon to be a steady contributor in the Gator line-up as she finished as the team leader in home runs, with six, and was second on the team in RBIs (19) during the 2011 season.

“We are looking for Macayla to continue to develop as a hitter this season. She put up some great numbers during her first season and we are hoping that she can continue at that pace,” said Bernstein.

Kaylyn Delgado will also be asked to replicate her numbers from her sophomore campaign, as the junior from Worcester, MA finished last season with four home runs while finishing third on the team with 16 RBIs despite missing three games due to injury.

Pine Manor will also be looking for increased production from sophomores Jamie Northup (Providence, RI) and Christine Lowe (Elmhurst, NY) as well as freshmen newcomers Samira Lopes (Boston, MA) and Samantha Jones (Springfield, MA). PMC also hopes that senior Beth Deegan, a stand-out for the lacrosse and soccer programs, will be a key addition in the Gator outfield.

Pine Manor College Softball will open its 2012 season on Wednesday, March 21, 2012 with a pair of games versus Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) opponent Saint Joseph College of Connecticut at Pine Manor Field in Chestnut Hill, MA.