Springfield, Mass. – March 29, 2025 – The Springfield College softball team secured a split against Emerson College in the initial New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) doubleheader for both squads on Saturday afternoon at Potter Field.

Emerson won game one, 1-0, before Springfield rallied for an 8-7 victory in the nightcap. Springfield's record pushed to 10-6 overall and to 1-1 in NEWMAC play, while Emerson's record moved to 9-7, 1-1.

Game One: Emerson 1, Springfield 0

Emerson scored one run in the top of the first inning and that's all the offense it would need behind starting pitcher Caleigh Sheehan, who struck out ten batters and scattered six hits in the complete game shutout for the Lions.

Sam Zannotti began the game with a base knock, moved to second on a bunt and to third on a single by Jessica Gomez before scoring the game's lone run on an RBI single from Riley Caiazza. 

Springfield had the game-tying run at third base in the bottom of the seventh, but Sheehan struck out the final batter of the game to secure the 1-0 final.

Callie Gendron (Berlin, Conn.) produced two of Springfield's six hits in game one. In the circle, Amelia DeRosa (Miller Place, N.Y.) and Lily McCauliffe (Greenwich, N.Y.) combined for seven innings and four strikeouts for Springfield.

Game Two: Springfield 8, Emerson 7

Lucy Puskas (Roxbury, Conn.) ignited the offense for Springfield in game two as she went 3-for-4 with three RBI and two runs, while Katie Manzone (Wareham, Mass.) went 2-for-4 with two runs and an RBI and Kate Katsetos (Brewster, N.Y.) went 1-for-2 with two RBI in the win.

After going scoreless in game one, Springfield put together five runs in the bottom of the first in game two. An RBI double from Carissa Pecchia (Mamaroneck, N.Y.) plated Brynlee Eckles (Ellington, Conn.) for the 1-0 lead before Puskas drove in three with a bases clearing double to right. After a pitching change, Michaela Ponticello (Gloversville, N.Y.) drove in Puskas for the 5-0 advantage through one.

Emerson climbed back with three runs in the top of the second and then tied the score at five with two more in the fourth. An RBI single through the right side from A. Lacey gave Emerson its first lead of game two, but a two-run double from Katsetos in the bottom of the fifth put Springfield back out in front 7-6.

Emerson knotted the score once again at seven in the top of the sixth, but after reaching on an error to start the bottom of the sixth, Eckles came across with the game winning run on a two out RBI knock from Manzone. 

Abby Robinson (East Lyme, Conn.) returned to the circle and allowed the tying run to reach, but retired the side on two fly outs and a ground out to secure the split for Springfield.

Springfield is slated to host Western New England in a non-conference doubleheader on Tuesday at 3 & 5 pm.

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