PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Graduate student Jill Pulek went 4-for-4 with a solo home run in No. 1 seed Johnson & Wales (RI) University's 7-6 loss to No. 3 seed Emmanuel (MA) College Saturday morning in the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Softball Playoffs at the Scotts Miracle-Gro Athletic Complex.

Sophomore Caroline Amorelli picked up three hits – including an RBI single in the sixth – for the Wildcats, who close the season with a 29-13 record. JWU entered the conference tournament riding a six-games in streak against GNAC opponents but dropped consecutive games for just the fourth time this season.

The Saints (24-17) exploded for five runs in the second to grab a 5-2 lead, but the Wildcats responded with two in both the third and fifth innings to move in front 6-5 lead. A two-run double off the bat of Pulek, followed by an RBI groundout from junior Hailey Erickson, cut the JWU deficit to 5-4. Later, Pulek's eighth round tripper of the season and Amorelli's run-scoring single gave the Wildcats the lead at 6-5.

With two down in the bottom of the sixth, the Saints strung together three-straight hits to plate a pair and retake the lead at 7-6. Graduate student Megan Antaya reached base to start the seventh on an error for JWU but was thrown out trying to advance to third on a sac bunt from senior Meaghan Gurska. Freshman Danielle Floyd and sophomore Mackenzie Clee followed with consecutive singles to put runners on first and second for sophomore Julia Huzi, who flied to right to end the game.

Sophomore Katie Scheid took the loss in relief for the Wildcats, allowing six hits and two runs in five innings of work. She finished her season with a record of 14-5.