CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. -- Pine Manor College first-year standout, and recipient of the 2013 PMC Athlete of the Year Award, Sybil Lynch (Hoboken, NJ) was recently featured in The Winston-Salem Chronicle following the Gators' trip to Winston-Salem, North Carolina from April 26-28 for the 2013 Great South Athletic Conference (GSAC) Tournament.

To read the full article from The Chronicle, click here.

CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. – Pine Manor freshman Sybil Lynch (Hoboken, NJ) was name the 2013 Pine Manor College Athlete of the Year at the annual awards ceremony and luncheon on Friday afternoon. Lynch excelled in soccer, basketball and softball for the Gators this year and was the only first-year athlete in the Great South Athletic Conference (GSAC) to be named to the GSAC All-Freshman team for three different sports this season.

Lynch led the soccer team in goals with nine and scored both of the game-winning goals in Pine Manor's two victories this season. During basketball season, she finished third on the Gators in scoring at 14.1 PPG and scored 20+ points four times during the season, including in back-to-back games to close out the regular season. In the spring, she then batted .377 for the softball team while collecting 10 RBIs and four doubles on the season and stealing a team-high seven bases. In addition, Sybil earned GSAC Player of the Week honors during both soccer and basketball season.

Sybil’s first-year classmates Alexis Lee (Akron, OH) and Chardonai Rose (Fairfield, CA) shared the prestigious Peter G. Ellis Award as co-Rookies of the Year. Alexis finished basketball season as PMC’s leading scorer at 16.3 points per game and also earned the GSAC Freshman of the Year Award. Rose led the softball team with a .508 batting average during the regular season to help her earn GSAC All-Conference and All-Freshman honors this season.

Senior Kaylyn Delgado took home the Henry K. White Award for career achievement. Delgado amassed 91 career hits over a four year softball career, including 34 during her senior season. In 22 games this season, she established a career high .507 batting average to help her finish her four year career with a .318 average. In four years she also collected 66 RBIs, 11 home runs and 16 doubles in 105 career games.

Senior Ashley Reeves (Roxbury, MA) received the Coaches’ Award, presented annually to a student-athlete who, in the opinion of the entire coaching staff, has shown unparalleled dedication to Pine Manor Athletics. Junior soccer and softball player Natasha Kopystynsky (Johnsburg, IL) took home the PMC Pride Award-- presented to the student-athlete who exemplifies Pride, Enthusiasm and commitment to her team and in Pine Manor athletics as a program. While, volleyball sophomore Destiny Mann (Orlando, FL) earned the Sportsmanship Award.

Senior soccer player Margaret Roberts (Allentown, PA) earned the Scholar Athlete Award for the third consecutive year as the student-athlete with the highest cumulative grade point average. She was joined on the All-Academic team, comprised of student-athletes with GPAs of 3.25 or higher, by nine other student-athletes: Lynch, Kopystynsky, Shauna Dineenn, Khiyana Isaac, Macayla Kirylo, Elizabeth Perez-Gonzalez, Phalogne Pierre, Tamara Sakala and Christina Warnke.

Finally, Kathy Martinez, PMC’s Director of Student Activities & Multicultural Community Engagement, was presented with the Henry Baker Appreciation Award, given annually to a member of the Pine Manor community who has given strong and gracious support to PMC Athletics. Martinez helped organize student trips to games away from campus while also cheering on the Gators throughout the year both at Pine Manor Gym and on the road.

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.

"I want to thank Coach Griffith for this opportunity," said Akins. "My number one priority is to hold fast to the vision we outlined over the past two seasons, to be the best team in the city. We fully understand the power of athletics and the positive influence it can bring to faculty, students, parents and our community. I firmly believe we have cracked the code and continuing down this path of success is my number one priority for the upcoming season."

Benjamin Akins joined Pine Manor College as Assistant Basketball Coach in September 2011, serving as an assistant coach for two season under Athletic Director/Head Coach John Griffith. Akins was named Head Coach of Pine Manor College  Women’s Basketball for the 2013-14 season. Akins brings over 12 years of coaching experience in various areas of athletics, fitness, team-building, counseling and character development to the PMC basketball program. Akins also brings over 20 years of diverse and challenging professional experience in leadership, physical fitness, financial management, administration, business management and countless areas of personnel management.

"One of the main reasons I decided to join the staff at Pine Manor was a personal and professional love for challenges," said Akins. "For us to succeed as a program and as an institution, we must all develop a respect for the process and success will follow through patience and perseverance. Understanding our roles, responsibilities and giving a maximum effort each and every day without excuses."

Prior to arriving at Pine Manor, Akins spent one year as the assistant coach at Massasoit Community College alongside Head Coach George Brown. In addition, Akins brings additional experience in coaching adult intramurals, high and junior high school boys' basketball to include youth level competitive sports.

Akins is a 17-year active duty veteran of the United States Marine Corps, where he served as a Marine Corps Drill Instructor at Parris Island, S.C., director of NCO leadership school, Inspector-Instructor & Honor Guard duty and two combat tours. His personal awards and medals include the Navy & Marine Corps Achievement medal (5th award), Navy Unit Commendation medal (2nd award), Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation medal, Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal (5th award), National Defense medal (2nd award), Global War on Terrorism medal, Sea Service Deployment (2nd award) and Overseas Service (3rd award). Upon completion of active duty, Akins served a one-year tour of duty in the Massachusetts Army National Guard. Coach Akins continues his service to the nation as a GS-12, Financial Specialist at Hanscom Air Force Base, MA.

Akins currently majors in Psychology at American Military University and is a proud member of The National Society of Collegiate Scholars.

Box Score

MONTGOMERY, Alabama -- Pine Manor College Women's Basketball dropped a 92-74 decision to Spelman College in the first round of the 2013 Great South Athletic Conference Tournament (GSAC) on Friday afternoon at Huntingdon College in Montgomery, AL. With the loss the Gators close out the 2012-13 season with an overall record of 9-14.

Led by 27 points from Andrea Kinzer, Spelman established a 12 point halftime advantage at 46-34. The Jaguars then grew the lead to as many as 26 points midway through the second half before eventually taking the 92-74 final. With the win, Spelman advance to the semifinals. They will face top-seed and host Huntingdon College tomorrow afternoon. 

The Gators had no answer for the hot-shooting of Spelman. Led by Kinzer, the Jaguars shot a blistering 47.1% from the field in the contest, while also establishing a 54-44 rebounding advantage. Christiauna Draper and Tiana Welch also finished in double-figures for Spelman with 13 points each. In total, 11 different players scored in the contest for Spelman. 

Pine Manor was led by a team-high 23 points from GSAC Freshman of the Year Alexis Lee (Akron, OH). Freshman Sybil Lynch (Hoboken, NJ) added 17 points of her own for the Gators, while Natasia Franklin (Windsor, CT) recorded a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds. 

CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. – The Great South Athletic Conference has announced its 2012-2013 All-Conference Award winners and a trio of Pine Manor College Women’s Basketball players have earned all-conference awards. The trio is headlined by freshman Alexis Lee (Akron, OH) who has been named the 2013 GSAC Freshman of the Year.

 Lee is joined on the GSAC All-freshman team by classmate Sybil Lynch (Hoboken, NJ), while Gator sophomore Natasia Franklin (Windsor, CT) was named to the GSAC All-Conference team after leading the Gators with 16 points per game and 10.2 rebounds per game on the season.

Lee (pictured above, middle) was second in the league in scoring with an average of 16.0 points per game. The dynamic first-year star also led the conference in free throw shooting percentage (77,6%) and finished second overall in assists with 79. She displayed her shooting skills by leading the league in three-point shooting percentage (38.6) and three’s made per game (2.8).

Lynch (above, right), the other half of PMC's first-year backcourt duo, finished second on the Gators in scoring at 14.0 PPG. The freshman guard scored 20+ points four times this season, including in back-to-back games to close out the regular season. Lynch collected 3.5 rebounds and 2.0 steals per game for Gators while knocking down 37 three-pointers on the season, the second most on the team. She was most recently named the GSAC Player of the Week earlier this week.

A sophomore forward from Windsor, CT, Franklin (above, left) averaged a double-double this season, finishing as Pine Manor's leading scorer at 16.0 PPG and leading rebounder at 10.2 RPG. Franklin finished second on the team in assists with 51 (2.3 APG) and led the Gators in field goal percentage, shooting at .448 % on the season. She was the team leader in blocks with 11 on the season while finishing second on the Gators in steals with 53.

 Salem College junior guard Satavia Taylor claimed conference Player of the Year. For the complete all-conference results visit the conference website by clicking here.

ATLANTA, Ga. - The Great South Athletic Conference announced the winter sports week fourteen Player of the Week on Wednesday morning and women’s basketball player and Sybil Lynch of Pine Manor College was selected as the winner through exclusive voting by the league sports information directors.

Lynch led the Gators in scoring during both of their games this week, including a 79-68 victory over Fisher College on Wednesday. Lynch scored a then career-high 23 points versus Fisher on Wednesday, while also collecting five rebounds, two steals and a pair of assists. The freshman from Hoboken, NJ then followed that performance by establishing a new career-high in points with 29 in an 87-67 PMC setback to Lasell College on Saturday while also grabbing six rebounds and two steals. For the week, she averaged 26 points, 5.5 rebounds, 2 steals and one assist per game.

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.

Live Video and Statistics will also be available for every game of the 2013 GSAC Basketball Championship Tournament:

For Live Statistics, click here.

For Live Video, click here.

Be sure to check www.pmc.edu/athletics throughout the weekend for the latest updates or follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/PMCAthletics.

Full tournament information, including the complete tournament schedule, can be found by visting the official GSAC conference website, click here.

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Pine Manor College Women's Basketball will make its first apperance in the Great South Athletic Conference (GSAC) Tournament this Friday, February 22, 2013, when they take on the Spelman College Jaguars at Huntingdon College's Roland Arena in Montgomery, Alabama.

The fifth-seeded Gators (9-13, 0-0 GSAC) will take on the number four seed, Spelman College (8-17, 4-6 GSAC), in the tournament's third game at 4:30 PM CST, 5:30 PM Eastern Time, on Friday afternoon. A four-year liberal arts women's college located five minutes west of downtown Atlanta, Georgia, Spelman has been a member of the GSAC since 2003. Spelman enter the tournament as winners of three of thier last five games, including a commanding 93-40 win over Bennett College in the Jaguars' regular season finale.

The winner will advance to take on tournament host and top overall seed, Huntingdon College (15-9, 8-2 GSAC) in the second of two semifinal matchups on Saturday afternoon at 3:30 PM CST, 4:30 PM EST.

The championship game of the GSAC Tournament will take place on Sunday, February 24 at 1:00 PM CST, 2:00 PM Eastern Time. The winner will earn the conference's automatic qualifier to the 2013 NCAA Division III Women's Basketball Championship Tournament.

Box Score

CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. – Pine Manor College Women’s Basketball freshman Sybil Lynch (Hoboken, NJ) scored a career-high 29 points, but the Gators dropped an 87-67 decision to visiting Lasell College on Saturday afternoon at Brunelli Court.

A pair of freshmen stole the spotlight on Senior Day, as Lasell’s Molly Lauver (Cambridge, NY) was not to be outdone by Lynch, scoring a game-high 30 points off the bench for the Lasers on 11-16 shooting. It was the second time this season that Lauver topped the 30-point mark, as she previously scored a career-high 33 points versus Johnson & Wales earlier this season.

Pine Manor freshman Alexis Lee (Akron, OH) was the only other Gator to join Lynch in double-figures, finishing with 17 points on 6-15 shooting from the floor. Playing in her final home game for the Gators, PMC senior Ashley Reeves (Roxbury, MA), pictures above, scored three points and collected a pair of rebounds.

In the opening minutes of the game it was Pine Manor that held the advantage, as a pair of free throws from Lynch gave PMC an 8-4 advantage five minutes into the contest. Just seconds later, Lauver would knock down her first bucket for the Laser. With Lasell trailing 8-6, sophomore Nikita Soares (Westport, MA) converted an and-one opportunity to push the Lasers in front, at 9-8, with 13:37 to play in the first.

Lasell increased its advantage to five points at 10:58 of the first when sophomore Alexis Chappell (Springfield, MA) and senior Kim Archibald (Lewiston, ME) converted on back-to-back layups 30-seconds apart to give the Lasers an 18-13 advantage.

Chappell finished with a double-double on the afternoon, collecting a game-high 19 rebounds and scoring 16 points. Archibald finished with 10 points and 8 rebounds in her final collegiate game. Lasell freshman Ginella Cola (Lowell, MA) also added 10 points for the Lasers, who finish the season at 10-15 overall and 4-8 in conference play.

The Lasell lead would grow to as many as 13 points late in the first half, but the Gators were able to cut the deficit to single-digits just before the half as Lynch knocked down a layup with 32-seconds remaining to send the teams into the break with Lasell leading 45-36.

Lasell would stretch the lead back to 12 points in the first two minutes of the second half before Pine Manor was able to chip away at the deficit. The Gators pulled within four points of the Lasers with 15:29 remaining, following back-to-back buckets from Lynch that made the score 53-49 in favor of the visitors.

With Pine Manor now within four points, Lasell rattled off a 14-2 run to take a 67-51 led with less than ten minutes to play. The Lasers would stretch the lead to 20 points with seven minutes to go-- largely thanks to Cola who scored all 10 of her points during the Lasell run midway through the second half.

Not content to go quietly, the Gators again rallied to cut the deficit, capitalizing on an 8-0 run to once again pull within single digits, at 75-66, with 4:43 to play. However, Lasell would then close out the game on a 12-1 run to take the 87-67 victory.

With the setback, PMC finishes the regular season with an overall record of 9-13. The Gators now await their fate for the Great South Athletic Conference (GSAC) Tournament which begins next Friday, February 22 at Huntingdon College in Montgomery, AL.

Box Score

CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. – Freshman Sybil Lynch (Hoboken, NJ) scored a team-high 23 points and classmate Meagan Badohu (Boston, MA) added an additional 21 points to help lead Pine Manor College Women’s Basketball to a 79-68 victory over visiting Fisher College on Wednesday evening at Brunelli Court.

With the win, Pine Manor improves to 9-12 overall, surpassing the Gators’ win total of eight from the 2011-12 season and collecting the most wins by the program since the Gators finished with 11 wins during the 2005-2006 campaign.  With the loss, Fisher finishes the regular season at 1-25 overall.

For Fisher, senior Porsha Grayson (Merced, CA) led all scorers with 29 points, shooting 10-25 from the field. Grayson was joined in double-figures by junior guard Javana Bernard (Waterbury, CT), who finished with 19 points, and sophomore Sabrina Rubaud (Brighton, MA), who recorded a double-double, scoring 10 points and collecting 14 rebounds. Rubuad tied for game-high honors in rebounds with teammate Samantha Maldonado (Hoboken, NJ), who also collected 14.

Pine Manor sophomore Natasia Franklin (Windsor, CT) and senior Ashley Reeves both finished in double-figures with ten points each. Franklin collected a team-high 11 rebounds to record a double-double for the Gators.

Earlier this season, Pine Manor held on to take a 73-72 road victory over Fisher at Fecteau-Leary Gymnasium in Lynn, MA. However, in the opening minutes of the first half, it looked as if Fisher was eager to avenge their loss to the Gators just a month ago. Fisher raced out to a double-digit lead at the midway-point of the first, taking a 19-7 advantage following a layup from Grayson.

Trailing by 12, the Gators responded with a 9-0 run, cutting the deficit to just three-points two minutes later. While a three-pointer from Bernard helped Fisher push the lead back to six just moments later, a pair of three-pointers from Badohu and a layup from Lynch helped gear an 8-2 PMC run and tie the score at 24-all with 5:21 remaining in the first.

In the closing minutes of the first half, Pine Manor would led by no more than five, as Fisher eventually fought back to take a two-point halftime led, at 39-37, thanks to back-to-back buckets from Bernard.

In the second half, the Gators found their groove. Franklin scored less than 30-seconds in to tie the score and Pine Manor was able to open up a double-digit lead thanks to a 10-run midway through the half, eventually leading by as many as 14 points, at 62-48, with 9:40 to play in the second.

From that point forward, Fisher would cut the deficit to single digits just once, at 71-62 with 5:17 remaining, as the Gators cruised to the 79-68 victory.

The Gators shot a blistering 46.9% in the second half to just 28.6% shooting for the Lady Falcons after the break.

The Gators will play their final home game of the regular season this Saturday when they take on Lasell College at 1:00 PM. The game is the final home game for Pine Manor senior Ashley Reeves (Roxbury, MA). She will be recognized in a short ceremony prior to the start of the game.

CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. – Pine Manor sophomore Natasia Franklin (Windsor, CT) scored a team-high 19  points but Pine Manor College Women’s Basketball fell to visiting Emerson College on Thursday evening by a final of 79-68. With the loss Pine Manor drops 8-12 on the season.

Emerson College sophomore Kristin Brice (Indiana, PA) led all-scorers with 23 points while also recording a double-double by collecting 10 rebounds in the contest. Freshman Sienna O’Han (Red Hook, NY) finished with 17 points, while senior Shannon Norton added 12 points and freshman Kelsey Johnson (Syracuse, NY) added a double-double of 10 points and 10 rebounds, to go with five blocks, to help the Lions improve to .500 at 11-11 overall.

For Pine Manor, Megan Badohu (Boston, MA), Sybil Lynch (Hoboken, NJ) and Alexis Lee (Akron, OH) joined Franklin in double-figures, scoring 14, 12 and 10 points, respectively. Lee also collected 10 rebounds to finish the game with a double-double.

Pine Manor opened the game ice-cold for the field, shooting just 24.4% in the first half. The Gators found themselves in a 10-point hole by the midway point of the first, trailing 18-8. The Emerson lead continued to grow throughout the first half as a pair of free-throws from Brice helped give the Lions a seventeen point advantage, at 35-18, with 2:35 left before the break. However, the Gators then closed out the first on an 8-0 run to enter halftime trailing by just nine at 35-26.

In the second half, Pine Manor cut the deficit to five points in the opening two minutes, as Franklin and Badohu both hit back-to-back layups. However, the Lions would push their lead back to 10 points less than a minute later following another layup from Brice. The Gators had little answer for the six foot forward, as Brice finished the contest 9-17 from the field while also collecting five blocked shots on defense.

Pine Manor again cut the Emerson lead to five with 8:48 remaining in the second half but the Lions would push the difference to double-digits just two minutes later, following a pair of free-throws from Norton. From that point forward, the Lions would close out PMC for the 79-68 victory.

Despite its slow start in the first half, the Gators finished the game at 31.1% from the field as Emerson only outscored Pine Manor 44-42 in the second half. Emerson finished the contest with a 55-44 advantage on the boards, while shooting 41.7% from the field.

Pine Manor’s next game is scheduled for Saturday versus St. Joseph’s College of Brooklyn. Tip-off is 5:00 PM. Emerson will return to action on Saturday as well, they are scheduled to host Fisher at 3:00 PM.

Box Score

NEW HAVEN, Conn. – Kendrea Walker (New Haven, Conn.) registered her third double-double of the season as the Albertus Magnus women’s basketball team defeated Pine Manor College 73-65 in non-conference action on Tuesday night.Albertus is now 16-5 on the year. With the loss, Pine Manor is 8-11 overall.

Pine Manor was led by Natasia Franklin (Windsor, CT) with 21 points and 15 rebounds, while Khiyana Isaac (Boston, MA) added 10 points and 11 boards. Alexis Lee (Akron, OH) also had 21 points for the Gators.

Walker finished the night with 20 points and 15 rebounds, while she shot 9-of-16 from the floor to lead the Falcons. Junior Annie Raucci (Milford, Conn.) also led the Falcons as she pulled down a career-high 19 rebounds, including 10 on the defensive end. Raucci added eight points, three blocked shots and two steals.

Walker scored eight of her 20 points in the first half, while she also pulled down seven rebounds in the frame. Pine Manor shot just 28.6% from the floor, an 8-of-28 showing in the half.  Both teams struggled from behind the arc in the first 20 minutes of play as the Falcons connected on two of their 10 attempts, while the Gators hit four 3-pointers in 10 tries. Albertus shot 32.5% from the floor in the opening half and went into the break with a 30-29 lead after junior Nicole Acerra (East Haven, Conn.) connected on a free throw with 13 seconds left on the clock before intermission.

The Falcons, who were out-rebounded 26-24 in the half, came out in the second frame and pulled down 31 boards opposed to Pine Manor’s 20.

The Falcons’ largest lead came in the second half with 13:10 to go as they went ahead by 13. Pine Manor battled back to get to within one with 5:41 left on the clock. Albertus used a 10-0 run in a span of 3:32 to extend its one-point lead out to 11 at 71-60.

Pine Manor will return home to face Emerson College on Thursday at 5:30 p.m. Albertus will travel to Sage on Thursday, Feb. 7 for a 7:00 p.m. non-conference match-up in Troy, N.Y.

CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. – University of Saint Joseph (USJ) junior Mary Hyde (Derby, CT) recorded a triple-double, scoring 24 points, collecting 10 rebounds and dishing out 11 assists to lead the visiting Blue Jays to an 81-65 victory over Pine Manor College women’s basketball on Sunday afternoon in Chestnut Hill, MA. With the loss, PMC drops to 8-10 on the season. USJ improves to 12-7 overall.

Hyde was one of five Blue Jays to finish in double-figures. Sophomore Claire Consonni (Bristol, CT) added 12 points off the bench for USJ, while classmates Brianna Ferraro (Waterbury, CT) and Heather Framski (Prospect, CT) added 11 points and 10 points, respectively. Junior Shauna Sullivan (Rocky Hill, CT) finished with 11 points. As a team, USJ shot 47.1 % from the field for the game while collecting 23 assists.

 Pine Manor freshman Alexis Lee (Akron, OH) earned team-high honors for the Gators, scoring 19 points on 6-13 shooting. Lee was a perfect 5-5 from the foul line. Classmates Sybil Lynch (Hoboken, NJ) and Megan Badohu (Boston, MA) finished with 14 and 11 points, respectively. PMC sophomore Natasia Franklin collected a game-high 10 rebounds.

USJ opened the game on a 13-3 run, trailing only when Lee put the Gators up 2-0 in the opening minute. Following Pine Manor’s early basket, the Blue Jays held the lead for the remainder of the first half and the game. However, the Gators continued to hang around in the early going, eventually cutting the early USJ lead down to just four points with 3:01 remaining in the first, at 31-27.

 Hyde and Lynch would each score on back-to-back possessions, before a pair of USJ three-pointers on either side of two free-throws from Lee would send the visitors into the break with a 39-31 advantage.

 In the second half, USJ quickly worked to separate itself from the Gators, increasing their lead to 15 points at 13:37 when Devon Diliberto (Waterbury, CT) knocked down a three-pointer to make the score 60-45 in favor of the Blue Jays. The USJ lead would swell to as many as 20 points in the second half as the Blue Jays continued to shoot over 45% from the field. 

 Badohu scored 9 of her 14 points after the break, while Lee knocked down 2-3 three-pointers, but it wasn’t enough to rally the Gators past the hot shooting of the Blue Jays as Pine Manor eventually fell by a final score of 81-65.

 Pine Manor will return to action on Tuesday night when they take on Albertus Magnus College at 7:00 PM in New Haven, CT. Saint Joseph will return home to host Anna Maria College, also on Tuesday at 7:00 PM.

Box Score to follow

RANDOLPH CENTER, V.T. -- Pine Manor College Women's Basketball turned in its best defensive effort of the season, holding host Vermont Tech to just 41 points to earn a 51-41 victory and improve their overall record to 8-9 on the season. Vermont Tech drops to 8-12 on the season.

From the very beginning it was obvious the game was going to be a contest decided by defense. Both teams sat back in zone defenses, a 3-2 for Pine Manor and 2-3 for Vermont Tech, goading the other to shoot. The strategies worked for each as the Knights and Gators continuously settled for outside shots and contested inside jumpers. The score at the half was PMC 24, VTC 17.

The Lady Knights came out hard in the second half, jumping on the visitors early. They brought their deficit down to just a single point within the first 2 minutes. Ama Baker (Jr./Fitchburg, MA) and Kelly Vellek (Sr./Burlington, VT) spearheaded the attack. Baker scored 6 and Vellek contributed 2 in an 8-2 run to begin the half. Vellek finished the game leading all scorers with 20.

The Gators, however, threw on a full court press that created quick turnovers and easy baskets. Sybil Lynch hit a three pointer, followed closely by a Natasia Franklin jumper and a Alexis Lee three pointer. Just like that the Pine Manor lead was 9, and they never looked back. Lynch led the Gators in scoring with 12.

At the 12:39 mark in the second period, the Lady Knights' starting point guard Baker fell hard after contact and struggled to get back up. She left the game to be examined by the trainer, and did not return to the contest. She ended the game with 11 points, 6 rebounds and 5 steals.

With 3:49 left in the game starting center Paige Wells (So./Orleans, VT) fouled out. The score was 45-38 in favor of the visitors. Wells finished the game second in rebounds, grabbing 8, while the Gators' Franklin pulled down 9 to go with her 10 points.

Without Wells in the lineup, along with already missing Baker, the Knights struggled both on offense and defense. Lee hit on both free throws for Pine Manor to extend their lead to 9, which was all the lead needed for the Gators.

With both teams sitting back in a zone defense, there were extremely few free throws. Pine Manor hit on 4 of 5, while VTC converted on 3 of 6. The biggest difference in the game was in rebounding, as PMC held the 49-37 advantage.

The Knights have no time to rest, as they take to the road to Amherst, MA on Sunday to face Hampshire College. Pine Manor also takes the court again on Sunday, as they host St. Joe's (CT) at their home in Chestnut Hill, MA.

Thanks to Vermont Tech Athletic Communications

Box Score

CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. – Pine Manor College women’s basketball sophomore Natasia Franklin (Windsor, CT) led all scorers with 28 points, while also collecting a game-high 17 rebounds, but visiting Johnson & Wales University snapped the Gators four-game win streak with an 80-65 victory over PMC on Wednesday evening at Brunelli Court. Pine Manor falls to 7-9 with the setback.

PMC freshman Meagan Badohu (Boston, MA) also recorded a double-double, scoring 12 points on 4-8 shooting while collecting 10 rebounds. While, classmate Alexis Lee (Akron, OH) also added 10 points for the Gators.

Johnson & Wales finished with three scorers in double-figures, as sophomore Nicole DiCocco (Media, PA) led the Wildcats with a team-high 20 points off the bench. Senior Marina Millian (Chester, NY) recorded a double-double, scoring 18 points and collecting 13 rebounds to help JWU improve to 8-11 on the season. Junior guard Jenna Juron (Burnt Hills, NY) added 14 points of her own, scoring 10 in the first half.

 Johnson & Wales took their first lead at 15:23 of the first and never relinquished it for the remainder of the contest. Both teams started off the night cold from the floor, as Pine Manor took a 4-2 lead at 16:15 of the first, following a layup by Khiyana Isaac (Boston, MA). A pair of free-throws from Millian tied the score for JWU, before Juron added a layup to give the visitors the early 6-4 advantage.

 The Gators shot only 25.7% from the field in the first, struggling to find their range but staying within reach of JWU until the Wildcats broke open a double-digit lead, at 28-18, with 4:42 to play in the first. The Wildcat lead would grow to as many as 16 in the closing minute of the first, as a layup from senior Chrissy Toth (Queens, NY) helped JWU take a 38-22 advantage into the break.

 Pine Manor responded in the second half, outscoring the Wildcats 43-42, as Franklin poured in 26 of her 28 points after the break. However, the first-half hole proved to be too large for PMC to climb out of, as the Gators would get no closer than within 12 points of the Wildcats for the remainder of the contest.

Pine Manor will return to action on Saturday afternoon when they travel to Randolph, VT to take on Vermont Tech. The Gators and Knights met earlier this season, with Pine Manor coming away with a 72-57 home victory. Johnson & Wales will also be in action this Saturday, as they will return home to host conference foe Simmons College at 1:00 PM.