Emerson Falls Short on Third Day of NCAA Tournament Play

Emerson College was eliminated on Saturday morning from the NCAA Regional Tournament action in Beverly, MA. The Lions fell to Tufts on Friday afternoon 3-1 in nine innings and were eliminated from the tournament on a 1-0 loss to Rhode Island College on Saturday morning. Emerson finishes the season with an overall record of 33-11.

The Lions suffered their first loss in the tournament when they faced top seeded Tufts on Friday afternoon. Tufts slipped by Emerson 3-1 in the top of the ninth inning when Danielle Lopez cracked a two-run home run to left-center field.

Tufts sophomore Izzie Santone and Emerson first-year Kelsey Tuthill matched up in a great pitcher's duel. Both threw blanks for the first five innings. Santone did not allow a hit through five innings, while Tuthill allowed only a second-inning double to senior RF Maya Ripecky and a fourth-inning single by Lopez. Neither scored.

The Jumbos scored one run in the sixth with the help of two miscues on bunts by Emerson, while Emerson came back to score one run in the bottom of the sixth to tie up the game.

Both pitcher's allowed just four hits in nine innings. Santone improved to 18-1 on the season, giving up the one run and striking out five. Tuthill allowed two earned runs and struck out eight.

On Saturday, the Anchorwomen of Rhode Island College edged Emerson 1-0 on a Donielle Mattoon two-out solo home run over the left field fence in the bottom of the firth inning. Rhode Island College sophomore pitcher Amanda Berard fired a no-hitter. Berard set down every batter she faced on the day, except for senior designated player Jess Silva, who struck out, but then reached on a passed ball with one down in the third to prevent the sophomore righty from hurling a perfect game. She struck out seven to earn her 16th (16-2) win and collected her sixth complete game of the year.

Emerson senior pitcher Kelsey Tuthill (Middlefield, Conn.) suffered the loss (19-7), holding the high-powered Anchorwomen offense to just three hits, while striking out seven.