Softball

News

2008

DeStefano, Moretti Named Academic All-District

Emerson College softball players Lindsay DeStefano (Sr., Glocester, R.I., left) and Mallory Moretti (Sr., Westerly, R.I., right) have each been named to the ESPN:  The Magazine Academic All-District first-team as selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). DeStefano and Moretti are the only two teammates to be named to the first team, and by virtue of their selection, will each be on the Academic All-America ballot.

This is DeStefano's second selection to the All-District team, having been picked in 2007 as well.  A third baseman, DeStefano is a three time All-Northeast District honoree by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association, and a three time Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) first-team All-Star.  This past season she hit .403 with 50 hits in 124 at bats.  She had six doubles, three triples, three home runs, and drove in a team leading 30 runs.  Additionally she stole 28 bases without being caught, and had a .935 fielding percentage.  A four-year starter on the Emerson women's basketball team, DeStefano played in 267 intercollegiate contests during her four years at Emerson.  DeStefano is a Broadcast Journalism major with a 3.51 cumulative grade point average.  She will attend graduate school at Northeastern University in the fall.

Moretti is an outfield selection.  She was a GNAC first-team all-star this past season, and was the GNAC Softball Rookie of the Year in 2005.  During her career she has been named to the GNAC All-Conference first- team in softball three times, has been an All-Region selection by the NFCA ,and an All-New England pick by the New England Softball Coaches Association.  She appeared in 39 games this past season, hitting .409 with 47 hits in 115 at bats with a double, a triple, and two home runs.  During her career she was safe on 86 of 97 stolen base attempts.  Moretti was also a captain of the 2007 Emerson women's soccer team and was a second team GNAC All-Star in that sport.  A broadcast journalism major, Moretti has a 3.36 grade point average.

To qualify for the Academic All-America program a player must be a starter or important reserve and have a cumulative grade point average of 3.2 or better.  District one comprises the New England states, New York State, and the Canadian maritime provinces.

2008

DeStefano, Farago Earn NFCA Honors

Emerson College softball players Lindsay DeStefano (Sr., Glocester, R.I., left) and Bridget Farago (So., Oneonta, N.Y., right) have been named to the National Fastpitch Association All-Northeast Region second team.  DeStefano was selected at third base and Farago was an outfield pick.

This is the third year DeStefano has been named All-Region, being a first team selection in 2006, a third team pick in 2007, and this season's second-team honor.  The 2008 selection is Farago's second consecutive year being named to the second team.  To view the 2008 softball team and individual statistics, click here.

Six Lions Honored by GNAC, Naramore Rookie of the Year

Six Emerson College softball players have been honored by the Great Northeast Athletic Conference for their play during the 2008 season.  Three players were selected as first –team All-Conference players, two were named to the second team, and one is a member of the GNAC Sportsmanship Team.

First-team selections were Lindsay DeStefano (Sr., Glocester, R.I.) on the infield and outfielders Mallory Moretti (Sr., Westerly, R.I. ) and Bridget Farago (So., Oneonta, N.Y.).  Pitcher Angela Jorgenson (Jr., Dayton, Iowa), and designated player Christina Naramore (Fy., Amissville, Va.) were second team picks and Naramore was voted as the GNAC co-Rookie of the Year.  Pitcher Annie Dennenberg (FY, Takoma Park, Md.) was selected for the GNAC Softball Sportsmanship Team.

DeStefano (left) is a first team selection for the third consecutive year.  The third baseman hit .409 with 45 hits in 110 at bats.  She tied for second on the team in doubles (5) and triples (3), and tied for the team lead in home runs (3).  She led the Lions with 30 RBI and was a perfect 28-28 in stolen bases.

Moretti (right), a former GNAC Rookie of the Year is a first-team selection for the second time in her career.  Moretti hit .422 as a left handed slap hitter.  She had a double, a triple, and two home runs with 16 runs batted in and was 13-15 in stolen bases.  She made only one error in 36 outfield chances.

Farago (middle left) was a second-team pick her freshman year and led Emerson in doubles (6) and triples (6) while also clubbing two home runs in 2008.  She made no errors in right field in 24 chances and was 10-10 in stolen bases.  She had a bating average of .374 and a slugging percentage of .576.

Jorgenson (lower right) was the Lions’ number one pitcher and earned a 12-5 record with a 1.68 ERA.  She threw 11 complete games and held opponents to a .210 batting average.  She notched 87 strikeouts in 112.2 innings pitched.

Naramore (lower left) had an outstanding first year, leading Emerson in batting average at .451 with 41 hits in 91 at bats.  Naramore played both designated player and catcher during the year. She had two double, a triple and drove in 22 runs while accumulating a slugging percentage of .527.  Behind the dish she had only one error in 74 total chances.  Naramore and Simmons Outfielder Dannie Szabo were named co-Rookies of the Year.

Dennenberg (no photo available) is Emerson’s #2 pitcher and compiled a 6-3 record with a 3.98 ERA in 15 appearances.  She threw four complete games including a no-hitter against Johnson & Wales University.  Dennenberg fielded her position perfectly making no errors in 25 chances.

Dennenberg completes Johnson & Wales Sweep with No-hitter

Emerson College pitcher Annie Dennenberg (FY, Takoma Park, Md., photo not available) finished Emerson's sweep of Johnson & Wales University in style on April 11 by throwing a no-hitter in Emerson's 8-0 victory in the nightcap.  Dennenberg was only an error away from a six inning perfect game, striking out three while allowing only two balls to leave the infield.  She faced the minimum number of batters thanks to a fourth inning double play that erased The Wildcats' only baserunner.

HERMAN TWIRLS NO-HITTER VS. Suffolk

Emerson pitcher Lynn Herman (FY, Boca Raton, Fla.) in the second game of April 3rd's double-header against Suffolk University threw a five inning no-hitter in an 8-0 Emerson victory.  It was the first no-hitter of Herman’s Emerson career, and she struck out nine of the 19 batters she faced in the game.

2007

Softball Team Named Nation's Top Academic Squad in Division III

Of the 88 teams listed in the Division III rankings, Emerson is one of 20 that both made the NFCA Academic list and qualified for the 2007 National Collegiate Athletic Association Division III National Championship Tournament.  Coach Phil McElroy's team compiled a 24-18 record.  The team rallied from a fourth seed to win the 2007 Great Northeast Athletic Conference tournament championship and represented the GNAC in the national tournament.  The Lions were 2-2 in the New England Regional. 

“This is a great accomplishment for our entire program,” Emerson Athletic Director Kristin Parnell said.  “We congratulate the women on the team for their hard work and dedication to their studies, and we couldn’t be more proud.

“I also want to especially recognize coach McElroy.  Phil recruited all these young women and obviously they are the type of student-athletes we want at Emerson...those that are successful both on the field and in the classroom.”

For more information:  http://www.nfca.org/news/?id=2824 

The Division III  top five : 

Rank School Head Coach GPA

2 Webster University Brett Swip 3.520

3 Springfield  College Kathy Mangano 3.487

4 Wartburg College Kara Kehe 3.475

5 Lynchburg College Dawn Simmons 3.465

Emerson College softball player Jennifer Boyden (Class of 2007, Chester, N.H.) has been named recipient of one of 58 NCAA postgraduate scholarships of $7,500 each to 29 male and 29 female student-athletes in all three NCAA divisions who participated in spring sports this academic year.  Boyden is the first Emerson College student-athlete to ever receive the award.

Boyden was the valedictorian of Emerson's Class of 2007, and was a Writing, Literature and Publishing major. The starting catcher on the softball team all four years, Boyden culminated her softball career by being named to the All-Tournament Team in the NCAA Division III Providence Regional.  She was a career .340 hitter and had a career fielding percentage of .979.

Heavily involved in extracurricular activities Boyden was the vice-president of the class of 2007, was the first Athletics Commissioner to the Emerson Student Government Association, and a member of the Department of Athletics Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.  She is a representative of the Residence Hall Association, and has been a member of the Emerson Alliance of Gays, Lesbians, and Everyone since her first year on campus.  Additionally she has worked for the athletic department and as a desk receptionist in the dormitories.

A member of the Emerson Gold Key Honor Society, Boyden won the 2006 John Zacharis Scholarship for “a great impact on the Emerson College Community”.  She has won the 2006 and 2007 awards as Emerson’s top student-athlete, is a two-time ESPN: The Magazine Academic All-District as presented by the College Sports Information Directors of America, and is listed in the 2006-07 edition of Who’s Who Among Students in American Colleges and Universities.

In addition, Emerson’s primary athletic affiliation, the Great Northeast Athletic Conference, has named Boyden as its Woman of the Year.  The Conference award qualifies her for the NCAA Woman of the Year Award that is presented in the fall.  Boyden is the first Emerson College student to ever receive the Woman of the Year honor as well.
 
The NCAA honors spring sports student-athletes from baseball, men's and women's golf, men's lacrosse, women's rowing, softball, men's and women's tennis, and men's and women's outdoor track and field.

In addition to the spring sport honorees, the NCAA also awards 116 postgraduate scholarships to student-athletes participating in fall and winter sports in which the NCAA conducts championships or participates in as an emerging sport, for a total of 174 postgraduate scholarships annually.

The NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship was created in 1964 to promote and encourage postgraduate education by rewarding the Association’s most accomplished student-athletes through their participation in NCAA championship and/or emerging sports. Athletics and academic achievements, as well as campus involvement, community service, volunteer activities and demonstrated leadership, are evaluated. In maintaining the highest standards in the selection process, the program aims to reward individuals whose dedication and effort are reflective of those characteristics necessary to succeed and thrive through postgraduate study in an accredited graduate degree program.

To qualify for an NCAA postgraduate scholarship, a student-athlete must have an overall grade-point average of 3.200 (on a 4.000 scale) or its equivalent and must have performed with distinction as a member of the varsity team in the sport in which the student-athlete was nominated. The student-athlete also must intend to continue academic work beyond the baccalaureate degree as a full-time or part-time graduate student. Selections are made three times each academic year. The application must be submitted during the appropriate seasonal category for the sport to the NCAA National Office. Candidates are screened by seven regional selection committees, and the award recipients are selected by the NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship Committee.

Emerson Season Ends With Multiple Awards

The end of Emerson College's first NCAA tournament qualifying season has brought a number of individual honors to team members.  No fewer than six different players have been selected for individual honors representing seven different conference or regional teams.

Third baseman Lindsay DeStefano (Jr., Glocester, R.I., left) lead the list with selections to six different teams.  DeStefano, who hit .347 and led the team with five home runs, 32 runs batted in and a .579 slugging percentage was a first team selection to the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) All-Conference team, was named to the GNAC All-Tournament team, was a third team All-Northeast pick by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA), was a second team Eastern College Athletic conference Division III New England All-Star, and was an honorable mention selection by the New England Softball Coaches Association (NESCA).  Additionally DeStefano, a broadcast journalism major, was named to the ESPN: The Magazine Academic All-District second team.

Bridget Farago (FY, Oneonta, N.Y., right) was named to four different teams.  An outfielder, Farago made an immediate impact starting 39 games and batting .388.  She led the team with 47 hits and 29 runs scored, and tied for the team lead in at bats (121),  and doubles (8).  She also stole 11 bases in 12 attempts.  Farago was named a first team GNAC All-Star and was named to the GNAC All-Tournament Team.  Additionally she was a second team pick by the NFCA and an honorable mention selection by the NESCA.

Jen Boyden (Sr., Chester, N.H.), Heather Drobiarz (Sr., Old Saybrook, Conn.), and Catie McDonough (So., North Adams, Mass.), each have been honored by two organizations.

Boyden  (left) was the Lions' primary catcher for all four years of her career.  A Writing, Literature, and Publishing major, and the valedictorian of Emerson's class of 2007, Boyden was a second team selection to the ESPN: The Magazine Academic All-District squad.  She batted .322 on the year  while leading the team in triples (5) and fielding percentage (.994).  She was named to the NCAA New England Regional All-Tournament after hitting .467 and driving in four runs in the four games.

Drobiarz  (no photo available) was selected the most valuable player of the GNAC tournament where she pitched the Lions to three wins and the conference title.  She was also selected to the NCAA New England Regional All-Tournament team after compiling a 2-2 record with a .196 earned run average in four games including a 169 pitch effort in Emerson's 3-2 12 inning victory over Endicott College.  In the eight tournament games in which she pitched in 2007, she had a 1.36 ERA with a 4-2 record and one save.

Emerson's starting shortstop, McDonough  (right) played in 37 of the team's games.  She was s second team GNAC All-Conference pick and was named to the GNAC All-Tournament team.  McDonough led the Lions in batting average (.396) and tied DeStefano for second on the team in hits (42).  She batted .431 in GNAC play with 4 doubles, two triples, and a .588 slugging percentage.

Also selected to the GNAC All-Conference Team was pitcher Angela Jorgensen (Jr., Dayton, Iowa, left). Jorgensen compiled a 6-3 record in league ply and had an ERA of 1.99 against GNAC opponents.  GNAC foes batted only .212 off her as she struck out 46 batters while walking only five.  Jorgensen threw complete games in all her GNAC games including a no-hitter against St. Joseph College on April 7.

Emerson finished the season with a 24-18 record and was ranked seventh in New England in the final NESCA poll.

Wellesley Ends Lions' Season

Providence, RI (5/12/07)-Catcher Kara Wong (Jr., Milford, Mass.) went 2-for-4 with two runs scored, three RBI and two solo home runs (5, 6) as third-seeded Wellesley eliminated seventh-seeded Emerson, 5-1, from the NCAA Div. III New England Regional Softball Tournament. The Blue (25-13) advance to play an elimination game with second-seeded Tufts on Sunday, May 13 at the Dayna A. Bazar Softball Complex beginning at noon. Top-seeded Rhode Island College will face the winner at 2 p.m. in the championship contest.

Wong belted the tournament's first home run, connecting on a 1-1 pitch and driving it over the left center field fence, with two-down in the bottom of the first inning.

The Blue added another run in the third as freshman left fielder Megan Wood (FY, Jacksonville, Fla.) led off with a single and scored on junior shortstop Alexandria Coari's (Jr., Geneva, Ill.) RBI double to the left field corner. The run chased Emerson senior starting pitcher Heather Drobiarz (Sr., Old Saybrook, Conn.) from the game for Angela Jorgensen (Jr., Dayton, Iowa).

Wellesley struck again in the bottom of the fourth inning as sophomore second baseman Ashley Bulseco (So., Princeton, Mass.) singled to center field, stole second and later scored on Wood's RBI single to right field.

Wong belted her second home run of the game in the bottom of the fifth, depositing a Jorgensen 0-2 pitch over the left field fence to give the Blue a 4-0 lead. She added an RBI fielder's choice in the bottom of the sixth.

The Lions broke up Wellesley pitcher Jenna Harvey's (London, Ontario) shutout bid in the top of the seventh as catcher Jen Boyden (Sr., Chester, N.H., above left) plated third baseman Nikki Battaglia (FY, Freehold, N.J.) with an RBI single.

Harvey hurled a complete game five-hitter, while striking out eight, to earn her 18th win (18-5).

Drobiarz takes the loss and ends her season with a 14-9 record. She allowed two runs on four hits, while Jorgensen allowed three runs on seven hits to go along with three strikeouts.

Emerson Takes 12 Inning Marathon to Advance In NCAA's

Providence, RI (5/12/07)-Seventh-seeded Emerson College came from behind twice in extra innings to down fifth-seeded Endicott College, 3-2, in game nine of the 2007 NCAA Div. III New England Regional Softball Tournament at the Dayna A. Bazar Softball Complex on Saturday morning. Designated player Nikki Battaglia (FY, Freehold, N.J.) tied the game up, while senior catcher Jen Boyden (Sr., Chester, N.H.) ended the contest with RBI singles. Emerson senior pitcher Heather Drobiarz (Sr., Old Saybrook, Conn.) threw 169 pitches, 107 of which were strikes, to earn her 14th (14-8) win of the season. She allowed two runs on 10 hits, while striking out three, to earn her 16th complete game.

The Lions (24-17) advance to play the winner of fourth-seeded Keene State vs. third-seeded Wellesley (1:30) at 5:30 p.m. in an elimination game. The Gulls (31-12) bow out of the tournament with their second loss (1-2).

It took over two hours for both teams to finally crack the scoring column. Endicott third baseman Sarah Spaziano (FY, Norton, MA) hit a two-out single to left field to score left fielder Danielle Sargent (Jr., Sabattus, Maine) in the top of the11th inning to put the Gulls up 1-0.

With their backs against the wall, the Lions notched the equalizer in the bottom of the 11th. Boyden and junior center fielder Mallory Moretti (Jr., Westerly, R.I.) each singled. With two outs and runners on first and second, sophomore shortstop Catie McDonough (So., North Adams, Mass., above left) singled to left field to plate Boyden with the tying run. Emerson almost won the game as freshman right fielder Bridget Farago (FY, Oneonta, N.Y.) nearly beat out a grounder to shortstop which could have ended the game.

Endicott struck back in the top of the 12th as shortstop Jenna Lazar (FY, Milton, Mass.) belted a two-out RBI triple to left field to score center fielder Paula McGinn (jr., Lynn, Mass.), but once again the Lions answered with the tying and decisive runs in the bottom of the frame.

Drobiarz retired 10 of the first 11 batters she faced. With two down and runners on first and third, Lions third baseman Lindsay DeStefano (Jr., Glocester, RI) cut down Endicott left fielder Danielle Sargent (Jr., Sabattus, Maine) at home as part of a delayed steal to keep the contest scoreless after four frames.

Endicott freshman starting pitcher Maria Mangine (FY, Lockport, N.Y.) pitched four innings of scoreless softball, allowing seven hits, while striking out three. Mangine surrendered two leadoff hits to the Lions in the top of the fifth and was lifted for senior Robyn Savitske (Sr., Hellertown, Penn.) who retired the next three batters to end the inning.

The Gulls threatened again in the top of the sixth, putting runners on second and third with one out. Drobiarz got Danielle Sargent to line out to right field and struck out sophomore catcher Meghan Sargent (So., Salisbury, Mass.) to keep zeroes on the scoreboard.

The Lions had their chance in the eighth, putting two aboard, but Sargent tracked down Boyden's deep foul drive to left at the fence to continue the game.  It was Boyden's only out of the game as she was 5-6 at the plate.

In the 10th, Spaziano walked for the Gulls and advanced to second on sophomore left fielder Casey Shanley's (So., Billerica, Mass.) bunt single to start the frame. The pair were sacrificed to second and third, but Drobiarz got out of the jam with two pop outs.

Savitske threw seven innings, allowing two runs on eight hits, while striking out five. Reliever Jackie Collier (So., Swampscott, Mass.) came on in the 12th for Savitske, but could not stop the Lions' surge. She allowed one run on two hits.

Lions Gain First NCAA Victory Ever

Providence, RI (5/11/07) -The Emerson College softball team earned its first NCAA Tournament victory, in just its second appearance, against the 59-team tournament field, defeating sixth-seeded College Misericordia, 4-0, this afternoon in the elimination bracket of the 2007 NCAA Division III Softball New England Regional Tournament on the campus of Rhode Island College.  

Emerson College (23-17) advances to square off against fifth-seeded Endicott College at 10 a.m. on Saturday, May 12, while College Misericordia bows out of its fifth NCAA Tournament appearance. The Cougars finished the season with an overall mark of 29-16.

Emerson starting pitcher Heather Drobiarz (Sr., Old Saybrook, Conn.) limited the Cougars to just four hits, while striking out four, to earn her seventh  complete game victory of the year  The right-hander tossed her second 1-2-3 inning in the final frame to record her 13th victory (13-8).

Despite being held to just five hits, the Lions were able to manufacture four runs, scoring a pair of runs in both the second and third frames. Catcher Jennifer Boyden (Sr., Chester, N.H., above left) went 1-for-3 from the plate with a pair of runs batted in. She broke open the tightly contested affair in the bottom of the third, knocking in a pair on a bases-loaded single to right field.

College Misericordia freshman pitcher Katherine Lucenti (Montrose, Penn.) was the hard luck loser, giving up four runs on five hits, while fanning six, as her record dips to 11-7.

Tufts Defeats Emerson in Lions' NCAA Debut

Providence, RI (5/10/07) -The second-seeded Tufts University softball team advanced in the championship bracket of the 2007 NCAA Division III Softball New England Regional Tournament, defeating seventh-seeded Emerson College, 3-0, this afternoon at the Dayna A. Bazar Softball Complex. The Jumbos pounded out 11 hits, while junior starting pitcher Erica Bailey (Scottsdale, Ariz.) hurled a complete-game, one-hitter. 

Tufts University (29-11) advances to face third-seeded Wellesley College at 4 p.m. on May 11, while Emerson (22-17) will meet sixth-seeded College Misericordia at noon in an elimination game.

The Lions could not solve Bailey as the junior right-hander retired the first 11 batters she faced. Emerson right fielder Bri Papa (So., Camilus, N.Y.) broke up Bailey's no-hit bid with one out in the top of the sixth, singling to the shortstop. Bailey bore down to retire four of the final five batters she faced to close out the contest and raise her record to 7-4.

Bailey helped out her own cause in bottom of the second stanza, leading off with a triple to right field. With one-out, junior catcher Megan Cusick (Albany, N.Y.) laced an RBI double to center field to plate the first and decisive run of the afternoon.

Tufts extended its advantage to 3-0 in the bottom of the fourth frame, when junior shortstop Heather Kleinberger (New City, N.Y.) tucked a bases-clearing RBI-double inside the third base bag to score Cusick and sophomore right fielder Maya Ripecky (Chicago, Ill.).

Cusick paced the Jumbos attack with a 3-for-3 showing at the plate with an RBI and a run scored. Sophomore left fielder Roni Herbst (Montclair, N.J.), Kleinberger, and Bailey each recorded two hits.

 Emerson starting pitcher Heather Drobiarz (Sr., Old Saybrook, Conn.) was saddled with the loss, surrendering three runs on eight hits, while collecting a strikeout. Relief pitcher Angela Jorgensen (Jr., Dayton, Iowa, above left) did not allow a run in two innings of work.

Emerson Softball Team Wins GNAC title and Will Play in NCAA tournament
SPRINGFIELD, MA (04/29/07) The Emerson softball team today won the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) championship with a come-from-behind 13-7 victory over Western New England College. As league champions, the team will be invited to play in the NCAA Division III regional tournament May 10-14. They will be the first Emerson team ever to play in an NCAA regional tournament.  The fourth-seeded Emerson Lions won all four games in the GNAC championship tournament, defeating Simmons and Rivier Colleges as well as Western New England, which they played twice. Emerson players Lindsay DeStefano, Caite McDonough and Bridget Farago were named to the All-Tournament Team.  Senior pitcher Heather Drobiarz (left) was named the Tournament MVP.  "Winning the GNAC tournament was the happiest moment of my coaching career," said softball coach Philip McElroy. "It's a great feeling for all of us associated with the team and involved in the Athletics program. It's an achievement that all Emersonians can take pride in."

 Emerson Hurlers Toss Double No-Hitters, Drobiarz Nets GNAC Honor
Boston, MA (4/9/07) - It was a long afternoon for the batters from St. Joseph College Saturday, April 7, as Emerson pitchers Angela Jorgensen (So., Dayton, Iowa, left) and Heather Drobiarz (Sr., Old Saybrook, Conn.), each threw a complete game no-hitter to help the Lions to a Great Northeast Athletic Conference doubleheader sweep of the Blue Jays.  In the first game, Jorgensen allowed no hits over seven innings in a 2-0 Emerson victory.  She struckout eight batters and walked only one.  Drobiarz matched the feat in the nightcap, striking out six and also walking only one in a 9-0 six inning Emerson win shortened by the mercy rule.  The effort earned Drobiarz the GNAC co-Pitcher of the Week honor.  The two victories raise Emerson's GNAC record to 9-3.

Boyden Named GNAC Player of the Week  
Emerson College catcher Jennifer Boyden (Sr., Chester, N.H., left) has been named the Player of the Week by the Great Northeast Athletic Conference for the week ending March 25.  In four games during the week, Boyden batted .414 with five hits in 12 at bats including two doubles and a triple.  She had four RBI on the week  and scored five runs.  Additionally she was solid behind the plate catching every pitch of all four games and having 23 putouts and an assist with no errors and no passed balls.

Farago Earns GNAC Honor Roll

Bridget Farago (FY, Oneonta, N.Y., right) made her first week as an Emerson College Lion a memorable one as she was named to the Great Northeast Athletic Conference Honor Roll for her play on the Lions' Spring Break trip to the Rebel Games in Orlando, Florida.  In 10 games during the week, Farago led Emerson in batting average (.414), was second on the team in slugging percentage, and was third in on base percentage.

2006

NFCA Names Emerson One of Top Academic Teams

The National Fastpitch Coaches Association has recognized the Emerson College softball team as having the 12th highest  cumulative grade point average in the nation among Division III teams.  The Lions compiled a team GPA of 3.390, missing the top 10 by 3/1000ths of a point.  St. Joseph's College of Maine was the only other New England team in the top 12.

ESPN: The Magazine names Two Lions All-Academic

Lindsay DeStefano (sophomore, Glocester, R.I.) has been named a first-team ESPN: The Magazine Academic All-District pick as selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America.  DeStefano, an infielder, led the Lions in batting average (.424), slugging percentage (.718), runs scored (40), home runs (9) and bases on balls (20).  She was a first team all-conference selection in the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC), was a first-team New England Softball Coaches Association All-Star, and a first ream all-Northeast Region selection by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association.  DeStefano is also a starter on the women’s basketball team and was second on the team in scoring with an average of 7.8 points per game.

Catcher Jen Boyden (junior, Chester, N.H.) was a second-team selection.  Boyden was named the first winner of the Susanne Swope Award as the top scholar-athlete at the Emerson after earning a perfect 4.0 grade point average for the recently completed academic year, raising her overall GPA to 3.98.  On the field Boyden hit .409 for the softball team, leading the team with 52 hits and 11 doubles. She is a Writing, Literature and Publishing major.

DeStefano Leads Individual Accolades for Softball Team

Emerson College third baseman Lindsay DeStefano (sophomore, Glocester, R.I.) leads the list of those receiving individual accolades as the Emerson Softball team concluded its best season ever.  The Lions finished the season 34-8, and were the first seed in the Eastern College Athletic Conference New England Division III playoffs.

DeStefano was named a first-team New England Softball Coaches Association All-Star, and was also a first-team selection by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association in the Northeast Region.  She led the Lions in batting average (.424), slugging percentage (.718), runs scored (40), home runs (9), and bases on balls (20).   

DeStefano was a first-team All-Great Northeast Athletic Conference selection, and was joined on the All-GNAC first-team by teammate Mallory Moretti (sophomore, Westerly, R.I.).  Moretti batted .357 with 22 stolen bases and had only one error in centerfield the entire year,

Second team selections were pitcher Sara Toga Collings (senior, Wilmington, Mass.)and utility player Bri Papa.  Collings compiled an 18-3 record with an ERA of 1.34.  Opponents batted only .209 against her.  Papa (first-year, Camilus, N.Y.) played catcher, left field, right field, second base, and designated player.  She hit .355 with nine doubles, three triples and five home runs.

Roger Williams Ends Lions' Best Season Ever

Roger Williams University notched a 15-4 victory over Emerson College in the first round of the Eastern College Athletic Conference New England Division III Championship Tournament.  Despite the loss, the Lions ended the season with a 34-8 record, the best in program history.

Lions Named ECAC Top Seed

The Emerson College Lions were named the top seed in the eight-team Eastern College Athletic Conference New England Division III Championship Tournament that will begin play on Wednesday, May 10 at a site to be announced. The Lions, with a record of 34-7 will play eighth seeded Roger Williams University (23-20-1). Emerson and Roger Williams had been tentatively scheduled to play during the regular season, but weather forced cancellation of the game.

In other first round games, second seeded Keene State College will host seventh seed Curry College. Suffolk University, the third seed, will play New England College, seeded number 6. The final game will feature Wellesley College as the fourth seed hosting The University of Southern Maine. USM, a team that defeated Emerson in the first round of the tournament in 2004, is the fifth seed.

The first round of the championship is a single elimination format. All succeeding rounds will be double elimination.

This is the third consecutive year the Lions have advanced to the ECAC Championship Tournament. This is the first time any Emerson team has ever been the top seed heading into an ECAC tournament.

Jordan, Papa named to All-Tourney Team

Emerson College softball players Jodie Jordan (junior,Northboro , MA) and Bri Papa (first-year, Camilus , NY) were each named to the Great Northeast Athletic Conference All-Tournament team following the completion of the GNAC Championship Tournament. Jordan, a junior outfielder/designated hitter hit .400 (4-10) in the four games of the tournament with five RBI. Included in her four hits was a triple and she also had a sacrifice fly and a stolen base. Papa played second base, leftfield, and catcher in the tournament. She had five hits and five RBI in the four games with a pair of doubles and a stolen base.

Collings Honored by GNAC for Second Time in 2006

April 19 - For the second time this season the Great Northeast Athletic Conference has named Emerson senior softball captain Sara Toga Collings its Pitcher of the Week. During the week ending April 15, Collings won four games and saved a fifth compiling an earned run average of .052. Collings struck out 21 batters and walked only one over the course of 27 2/3 innings pitched.

Catcher Jen Boyden was a GNAC Honor Roll Selection the same week. Boyden hit .500 during the seven-game week and led or tied for the team lead in five different offensive categories.

DeStefano Captures Conference and Regional Honors

April 3 - The Great Northeast Athletic Conference and the Eastern College Athletic Conference have named Emerson third baseman Lindsay DeStefano (Glocester, RI) the player of the week for the week ending April 2. During the week, DeStefano batted .667, raising her season batting average over 100 points. Currently tied for the team lead in hitting at .444, in seven games DeStefano had 14 hits in 21 at bats including four doubles, three triples, and four home runs with 19 runs batted in.  Her slugging percentage for the week was an astounding 1.619.

DeStafano is the first Emerson softball player to be named the ECAC New England Division III Player of the Week.

Collings Named GNAC Pitcher of the Week

March 28 - Emerson pitching ace Sara Toga Collings (Wilmington, MA) has been named the Great Northeast Athletic Conference Pitcher of the Week for the first weekly report of the 2006 season. Collings has compiled a 6-1 record through the course of the team's Florida spring trip and during games the first week of the regular season. The senior captain has led the Lions to an 11-3 record. In 40 innings pitched she has given up only seven earned runs while striking out 23 and walking only two. Collings has an earned run average of 1.23.

Emerson Softball Honored for Academic Performance

October, 2005 - The 2005 Emerson College softball team has compiled the 14th best cumulative grade point average among softball teams in the nation in Division III. In rankings released by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association, the Lions 3.357 cumulative GPA also ranks the team 39th in the nation among teams from all NCAA Divisions.

The Lions earned a 27-13 record during the year and qualified for the New England Division III playoffs, where the team lost a 1-0 decision to Smith College. Smith finished 12th in the academic race (3.375). Emerson was one of two Great Northeast Athletic Conference schools to make the list with Emmanuel College checking in at number 40 (3.220 cumulative GPA).

First baseman Ellen Boss ('05, Dracut, MA, Communications Sciences and Disorders major) and catcher Jen Boyden ('07, Chester, NH, Writing, Literature, and Publishing major) were each selected to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District team in softball for the 2005 season.