Wellesley Softball Sweeps Clark to Open NEWMAC Play

WELLESLEY, Mass. -- The Wellesley College softball team opened NEWMAC play with a doubleheader sweep against Clark University on Saturday in Wellesley. The Blue nabbed game one, 7-0, and then took game two, 10-2, in six innings. Wellesley pounded out 22 total hits between the two games, while Blue pitchers allowed just one earned run in the wins.

Wellesley improves to 4-6 overall, 2-0 in the NEWMAC win the sweep, while Clark dips to 4-8, 0-2 in the NEWMAC.

In game one, Wellesley senior Jennifer Migliore blasted a grand slam, while classmate Lindsay Johnson pitched a gem, leading the Blue to a 7-0 win. Migliore connected on the first home run of her career, lacing a two-out pitch to left center field, giving the Blue a 4-0 cushion in the bottom of the first inning. Johnson didn't need much run support beyond that, as the senior threw a seven inning shut-out, allowing just one hit, with nine strikeouts.

Migliore's first inning blast scored junior Maria LaBouyer, senior Jayne Ellis, and junior Emilyrose Havrilla. LaBouyer and Havrilla added singles in the inning while Ellis was hit by a pitch.

Wellesley added two runs in the bottom of the second, using a pair of doubles from first-year Anna Pisac and junior Abby Casey to make it 6-0 Blue. The hosts then added an insurance run in the bottom of the fourth, as a LaBouyer single scored sophomore Jaclyn Tsang to set the score to 7-0.

Clark threatened in the top of the sixth using a Hayley Buckheit walk and a single from Corrie Derosier, the first hit for the Cougars, to put a pair of runners on. After a stolen base put runners on second and third, Wellesley's Johnson forced a fly out to end the Clark threat.

Aside from Migliore's four RBI, Wellesley's offense was boosted by a 3-for-3, RBI performance from LaBouyer. Also for for the Blue, Casey finished the day 2-for-3 with an RBI.

Clark's game one offense was limited to just one hit, Derosier's sixth-inning single. In the circle for the Cougars, Buckheit got the loss, throwing six innings, allowing six earned runs on nine hits.

Game two was a closer match-up until Wellesley exploded for seven runs in the bottom of the sixth to put the game away, 10-2. Havrilla and first-year Ashtyn Coleman belted home runs in the game, while the Blue got another solid pitching performance, this time from sophomore Amber Braun.

Wellesley got on the board first, scoring a run in the bottom of the second. Migliore walked and junior Mariah Philips singled up the middle to put runners on first and second. Bresee then laid down a nice bunt that was overthrown by Clark, allowing Migliore to score. The Cougars then erased both Wellesley runners on the bases, escaping the inning with minimal damage.

Clark responded in the top of the third, tying the game at 1-1, using two hits and a sacrifice fly. Shawna Amatucci led off the inning with a double to left, while Melanie Dusseault singled to left putting two on. Maya Allen then drove home Amatucci with a deep sacrifice fly to center field, before Wellesley got a groundout to end the inning.  

The Blue regained the lead in the bottom of the fourth frame, using a blast from Havrilla to make it 3-1. Ellis singled and was advanced to third on a two-base error, before Havrilla took an 0-2 pitch over the right center field fence for her first career home run. The Blue followed the home run with a Migliore single, a Philips walk, and a Bresee sacrifice, but Clark forced a groundout to minimize the damage.

Clark narrowed the lead to 3-2 with a run in the top of the sixth, taking advantage of a pair of Wellesley miscues. Clark's Derosier reached on a Wellesley error to open the inning, and was advanced to second on a sacrifice from Alyssa Wright. The Blue's Braun forced a pop-out on the next batter, but Clark's Rachel Kraytenberg hit an infield single and a Wellesley throwing error allowed Derosier to score. Mackey doubled on the next pitch, putting runners on second and third, but Braun forced a ground out to end the inning.

Wellesley put things away in the bottom of the sixth, recording seven hits, including a bases-clearing double from Casey and a two-run homerun from Ashtyn Coleman, the first of her career. Ellis recorded a pair of singles in the innings, while Havrilla, Philips and Bresee all recorded singles to aid the effort.

Wellesley finished the game with 13 total hits, including three from Ellis and two each from Havrilla and Philips. Casey recorded three RBI, while Havrilla and Coleman each drove in a pair. Also tallying RBI for the Blue were Ellis and Bresee. In the circle, Braun recorded the win, throwing six innings, allowing two runs (one earned) on six hits with two strikeouts and no walks.

Clark's Dusseault and Mackey each recorded a pair of hits for the Cougars in the loss, while Allen drove in a run. Dusseault got the start, throwing six innings, allowing 10 runs (nine earned) on 13 hits.

Wellesley's next game, a doubleheader at Coast Guard, has been postponed due to rain. The Blue will play on Tuesday at Emerson at 4:00pm in a NEWMAC doubleheader that was originally scheduled for late March. Clark will be back in action on Tuesday, heading to Nichols College for a 3:00pm doubleheader.