PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Sophomore Jessica Forneiro broke a scoreless tie with a two-run double in the fourth and junior Mady Lyons smacked a three-run home run in the seventh to send the JWU (Providence) softball team to the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Championship with a 6-2 win over Simmons University Sunday afternoon at the Scotts Miracle-Gro Athletic Complex.

With the win, the Wildcats (27-14) – whose 27 wins is the eighth-most in program history – will host the University of Saint Joseph on Friday and Saturday, May 9-10 with the winner advancing to the NCAA Tournament.
Senior Katie Scheid struck out five in seven innings of work to pick up her 14th win of the season, which tied a career-high set last season. The Hightstown, New Jersey native and GNAC Pitcher of the Year candidate allowed six hits and two runs without allowing a walk.

After Lyons poked a one-out single and senior Caroline Amorelli reached on an error, Forneiro ripped a shot over the head of the right fielder to plate two and stake her team to a 2-0 lead. The Wildcats then opened the seventh with consecutive singles from sophomore Chloe Brunelle, junior Jadyn Torres, and senior Mackenzie Clee to load the bases.

Following a sac fly off the bat of sophomore Amanda Madigan, Lyons slammed her 12th home run of the season over the centerfield fence to make it 6-0. The Sharks (20-22) threatened in the seventh before Scheid induced a grounder to short for the final out of the contest.

Lyons finished with two hits and three RBI while Brunelle also picked up two hits.