Softball Splits Doubleheader with Emmanuel

WESTON, Mass. - Regis College split a non-conference collegiate softball doubleheader with Emmanuel College Thursday night at Regis Softball Field, losing game one, 8-0, and winning game two, 2-1.

GAME TWO: Regis 2, Emmanuel 1

In game two of the doubleheader, Bianca Burke (Cambridge, Mass.) tied the Regis softball single-season runs record with 27 runs so far in the 2023 season.

Lexi Nichols (Granby, Conn.) and Burke hit back-to-back line drive singles to the outfield to lead off the bottom of the third inning and advanced to second and third on a passed ball. Later in the inning, Diana Petrarca (Coventry, R.I.) hit an RBI single to center field to put the Pride on the board. Petrarca stole second, putting two runners in scoring position for Ciara Collins (Lynn, Mass.), who hit a double down the left field line to score another run and give Regis a 2-1 lead.

Three straight singles loaded the bases for the Saints in the top of the sixth inning, but Petrarca managed to pitch the Pride out of the jam, striking out a batter and forcing a lineout to center, ending the inning with Regis maintaining the lead.

Back-to-back singles by Taylor Chelak and Julyanne Pacheco with one out in the top of the seventh put runners on first and second. On the following at-bat, Olivia Conti flew out to Burke in center field who managed to gun down Chelak at third base after she attempted to tag up on the play, ending the game in favor of the Pride.

Petrarca earned the win for Regis, pitching the complete game while striking out three and finishing with zero earned runs and walks. Madison Hinkley pitched the majority of the game for Emmanuel, striking out two batters while allowing two earned runs.

Emmanuel scored the first run of the game when Christyna Winstead singled to lead off the top of the third inning and later scored when the ball was bobbled by the right fielder after Conti singled to the outfield.

GAME ONE: Emmanuel 8, Regis 0

Colby Butterfield (Gilford, N.H.) started in the pitching circle for the Pride, striking out five batters for her 100th career strikeout. Tianna Dawe had seven strikeouts in the win for Emmanuel.

Regis threatened early on when Petrarca put runners at first and second with a line drive single to left field after Andria Braga (Rehoboth, Mass.) walked earlier in the first inning. The runners later advanced to second and third, setting up Kayla Morrill (Lynn, Mass.), who hit a hard ground ball to shortstop for the third out of the inning.

Chelak hit a leadoff triple over the right fielder's head in the top of the first inning, followed by an RBI double by Pacheco, who later stole third and was driven in by Maegan Amsler to give the Saints a 2-0 lead over the Pride.

Emmanuel picked up two more runs in the top of the third inning when Chelak hit her second triple of the game over the right fielder's head and Conti walked and stole second to put runners on second and third. Amsler doubled to the gap in right-center field on the ensuing at-bat to drive in both runners and put the visitors up 4-0.

In the top of the fifth inning, a double by Chelak and a bunt single and steal by Pacheco put runners at second and third for Amsler, who hit a single through the right side of the infield to drive in both runners and pick up her fourth and fifth RBIs of the game. An RBI single by Dawe put the Saints up 7-0 by the end of the inning.

Amsler picked up her sixth RBI of the game in the top of the sixth inning off a triple to right field to put the visitors up 8-0.

Regis College (11-19, 2-4 GNAC) returns to play on Saturday, April 22, for a road doubleheader against Elms College beginning at 1 p.m. Emmanuel plays on the road at Albertus Magnus on the same day, first pitch at 12 p.m.