Softball Bows Out of NCAA Tourney; Falls to No. 15 Emory & Henry and Cedar Crest in Day 2 Action

THE BASICS 

Score:             
No. 15 Emory & Henry College, 5; Emmanuel College, 1
Cedar Crest College, 4; Emmanuel College, 3
Records:         
Emmanuel College Saints (21-6, 9-1 GNAC)
Emory & Henry College Wasps (30-7)
Cedar Crest Falcons (19-4)
Location:         
Seguin, Texas – Ed Kruse Stadium
Date:               
Saturday, May 22, 2021

THE LEAD:  Emmanuel College battled in two NCAA Regional games Saturday afternoon on the campus of Texas Lutheran University but ultimately fell in both to conclude its 2021 Softball campaign. The Saints dropped a 5-1 decision in its opener to No. 15 Emory and Henry College before falling to Cedar Crest College in an elimination game, 4-3.

HOW IT HAPPENED (vs. Emory & Henry)

• After two scoreless innings to start the game, Emory & Henry got on the board in the top of the third. Junior left fielder Nicole Cox (Cedar Falls, N.C.) reached on a bunt single and got herself in scoring position with a stolen base. Senior first baseman Kendall Varner (Bassett, Va.) drove her home with a single up the middle for the 1-0 score.
• The Wasps got runners on second and third with one out in the fourth inning but were unable to add to their 1-0 lead.
• In the bottom of the frame, the Saints equalized on a single to centerfield by sophomore Maegan Amsler (Hanover, Mass.), plating first year shortstop Olivia Conti (Crandston, R.I.).
• E&H bounced back in the fifth to go up 2-1 when senior pitcher Alex Braun (Lexington, S.C.) hit a double down the right field line to drive in junior centerfielder Anna Thomas (Climax, N.C.). It was Braun's 21st two-bagger of the year, tying the school record.
• A leadoff double by senior shortstop Kyndall Hiatt (Ararat, Va.) in the sixth led to another run as sophomore right fielder Emily Scaggs (Riner, Va.) scored Hiatt with an infield single. The Wasps got runners on second and third with two outs by Cox's flare to the gap in right-center was just within the reach of the Saints' right fielder.
• In the seventh, the E&H added two insurance runs to go up 5-1. Braun tripled to right-center, plating Varner while senior third baseman Allyson Steadman (Kingsport, Tenn.) drove in freshman pinch runner Amy Meister (Mooresville, N.C.). EC got a pair of runners aboard with one out in the bottom of the inning but the Wasps shut the door to seal the victory.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Braun earned her 14th complete-game win of the year, allowing one run on four hits with 11 strikeouts and no walks. She helped her own cause at the plate, going 2-for-4 with two RBI. Hiatt also had a pair of base knocks in the contest as she also scored a run.
• Amsler led the Saints with her bat, driving in a run on two hits. In the circle, senior Megan Long (Greenville, R.I.) struck out four in the first four innings of the contest, allowing one run on five hits. Sophomore Tianna Dawe (Lynn, Mass.) suffered the loss in relief, as four runs scored on five hits and two walks under her watch. Conti also extended her hitting streak to 18 games.

HOW IT HAPPENED (vs. Cedar Crest)

• Trailing 4-0 with two outs in the seventh, the Saints made a valiant effort at a comeback by scoring three runs to pull within a run at 4-3 with the tying runner at second base. Sophomore outfielder Jadynne Hill () singled with the bases loaded, driving in two and clearing the bases with the help of a Falcon miscue to make it 4-3 but Brenna Young was able to work out of the jam and retire the side for the complete game victory, improving to 9-1 on the year in the circle.
• Cedar Crest opened the scoring in the third inning with a pair of runs on an RBI single from Nicole Santaniello and the second run coming in on a wild pitch on a close play at the plate that went in favor of the Falcons.
• CC padded the lead with two more runs in the fifth to bump the lead to 4-0 on a pair of RBI doubles from Santaniello and Patricia Dalton.
• Young was in control most of the afternoon until the seventh inning blip before settling down to earn the win and end the Saints historic postseason run with the 4-3 victory.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Hill and senior Emily Blanchard (Sturbridge, Mass.) ended the game with two hits a piece while Conti collected another hit in her final at bat to cap the year riding a program-record 19 game hitting streak.
• Dawe suffered the loss to cap the year with a 10-4 mark in the circle while Long closed out the game going 3 2/3 innings and striking out three to end the season with a GNAC-high 103 strikeouts.
• Dalton and Santaniello both went 2-for-3 for the Falcons in the win.

THANK YOU SENIORS

• The Saints bid farewell to Blanchard, Long and Kaitlin Bouchard (South Portland, Maine) and would like to thank all three for their commitment and dedication to the EC Softball program over the last four years. The trio graduated earlier in the week in a private ceremony before the rest of their senior class completed commencement exercises earlier today back in Boston. Thank you, Emily, Megan and Kaitlin and congratulations on your amazing EC Softball careers!

2021 Seguin, Texas Regional All-Tournament Team

Christopher Newport, designated player Patty Maye Ohanian
Cedar Crest College, outfielder Renee Snyder
Cedar Crest College, second baseman Nicole Santaniello
Bridgewater State, outfielder Alexandra Ruprecht
Emmanuel College, pitcher Megan Long
Emory & Henry, shortstop Kyndall Hiatt
Emory & Henry, second baseman Hailey Mince
Emory & Henry, center fielder Anna Thomas
Emory & Henry, pitcher/designated player Alex Braun
Texas Lutheran, pitcher/third baseman Chassety Raines
Texas Lutheran, right fielder Skylar Ouellette
Texas Lutheran, center fielder Kelly Jurden
Texas Lutheran, left fielder McKay Bloxham

Most Outstanding Pitcher of the Seguin, Texas Regional ... right-hander Sydney Ouellette, Texas Lutheran
Most Outstanding Player of the Seguin, Texas Regional ... catcher Sarah Metzer, Texas Lutheran