Blue Softball Splits NEWMAC Doubleheader with Springfield

WELLESLEY, Mass. -- The Wellesley College softball team split a pair of games against NEWMAC-foe Springfield College on Saturday afternoon. The Pride took game one, 8-3, but the Blue rebounded for a 6-1 win in game two. 

Wellesley improves to 21-10 overall, 10-4 in the NEWMAC, while Springfield is 22-17, 13-3 in NEWMAC play. 

In game one, Springfield used two home runs from Breann Joyce and a five-run sixth inning to nab an 8-3 victory. 

The Pride went up 3-0 in the top of the first on a three-run bomb from Joyce. Kelly Blake led off the inning with an infield single, and after a strikeout and a pop-up, Jenna Webb reached on a bloop single, setting up Joyce's homer to right center.

Wellesley answered with a pair in the bottom of the inning, collecting three hits of their own, including a two-run home run from Lauren Goldfarb. Abby Casey had the first hit of the inning, a double to center, and scored on Goldfarb's shot.

The Blue tied the game at 3-3 in the bottom of the fifth. Carly Bresee knocked home the big hit of the inning, a single to left field that plated Kim Cabral. Cabral led off with with a single, was sacrificed to second by Havrilla and was moved to third on a passed ball.

Springfield quickly regained the lead in the top of the sixth, exploding for five runs off of six hits. Joyce led off the inning with a solo home run, her second shot of the game. Christina Leader singled in a pair of runs, while Blake and Jenna Webb each added RBI singles in the inning. 

Wellesley had a baserunner in the bottom of the seventh, a walk to Samantha Spiga, but couldn't muster any other offense, giving the Pride the 8-3 win.

For Springfield, Rivellli went 3-for-3, while Blake, Webb and Joyce all had two hits. Joyce finished with four RBI, while Leader added two. Jen Joseph threw all seven for the Pride, allowing three runs on five hits, with four strikeouts and two walks. 

For Wellesley, five players recorded hits, with Goldfarb driving in a pair, and Bresee driving in one. Schwartzmeyer started the game, allowing five runs on eight hits with a walk and four strikeouts. Goldfarb came on in relief, tossing two innings and allowing three runs on five hits, with two strikeouts. 

In game two, Wellesley seized the lead early and never looked back, capturing a 6-1 victory. 

The Blue opened with a 3-0 advantage in the bottom of the first, collecting three total hits. Bresee led off with a single and was knocked home by a single from Goldfarb. A Maria LaBouyer double to deep center plated the second run of the inning, while an RBI groundout from Kimberly Cabral made it 3-0. 

Wellesley stretched the lead to 4-0 in the bottom of third, as LaBouyer went deep with a bomb over the left field fence. 

The Pride got one back in the top of the sixth as Blake's leadoff single came around to score on a wild pitch. Springfield, however, stranded Leader on third as Wellesley's Lindsay Johnson struck out the fourth and fifth batters in the lineup to end the threat. 

Wellesley padded its lead with two runs in the bottom of the sixth. Singles from Ellis and LaBouyer came around to score on a two-out hit from Jennifer Migliore, making it 6-1 Blue. 

Springfield threatened in the top of the seventh, putting runners on second and third with two outs, as hits from Rivelli and Bender put them in scoring position. Johnson then forced a ground ball that second baseman, LaBouyer, made a diving stop on, throwing to first to get the final out of the game.

For Wellesley, LaBouyer finished 3-for-3, with two runs and two RBI, collecting a single, a double and a home run. Bresee recorded two hits, while Migliore drove in a pair. Goldfarb and Cabral each added solo RBI.

Johnson picked up the win for the Blue, throwing seven innings, scattering six hits and allowing one run. She struck out seven and issued one walk to earn her sixth win of the year. 

The Pride were paced at the plate by a two-hit performance from Catie Holik. Springfield's Ashley Marino got the start, throwing three innings, allowing four runs off of five hits with two strikeouts. Caisie Cadorette came in in relief, pitching three innings, allowing two runs on three hits with a strikeout. 

Wellesley is back in action on Sunday, traveling to Wheaton College for a 12:00pm doubleheader that will close out the NEWMAC regular season. Springfield next plays on Wednesday, hosting Westfield State in a non-conference doubleheader beginning at 3:30pm.