Wellesley Softball Sweeps Babson; Blue Run Win Streak to Eight

WELLESLEY, Mass. -- The Wellesley College softball team powered its way to a doubleheader sweep over NEWMAC-rival Babson College on Friday afternoon. The Blue won game one, 7-6, on a walk-off home run from Jaclyn Tsang, and then nabbed an 8-3 come-from-behind win in game two, backed by grand slam from Anna Pisac.

The wins give Wellesley eight in a row, improving the Blue to 10-6 overall, 6-0 in NEWMAC play. Babson dips to 12-9 overall, 4-4 in the NEWMAC with the losses.

In game one, Wellesley struck first, using a three-run home run from Emilyrose Havrilla to take an early lead. Wellesley had runners on first and second, using an Ashtyn Coleman walk and a Jayne Ellis hit by pitch, before Havrilla laced 1-2 pitch over the right center field fence for a 3-0 lead.

Babson responded by scoring six unanswered runs, one in the fourth, three in the fifth, and two in the sixth to take the lead. In the fourth, the Beavers used a single from Maya Lacy and a walk to Meaghan Merullo to put runners on first and second. Emily Morris then singled to center, and a Wellesley error allowed Lacy to score, cutting the Blue edge to 3-1.

Babson took the lead with three more in the fifth, using five hits and a Wellesley miscue to make it 4-3. Lacy doubled in Katie Guido for the first run of the inning, before a single from Merullo and a Wellesley error, allowed Lacy to tie the game at 3-3. An infield single from Lindsey Schmid then scored pinch runner Celeste Hynes to give the Beavers the lead.

The visitors pushed their advantage to 6-3 in the top of the sixth. A lead-off walk and a double from Kathleen Conway put runners on second and third to start the inning. Lacy then rocketed a single into center, scoring both runs to give Babson a 6-3 advantage.

Wellesley answered back with three runs in the bottom of the sixth, tying the game at 6-6. Three straight singles from Maria LaBouyer, Ellis, and Havrilla loaded the bases with one out for the Blue. Jennifer Migliore then poked a single to right field to score LaBouyer, but Ellis was thrown out at the plate trying to advance. Wellesley cut the lead to 6-5 as Havrilla came around to score on on a wild pitch, and Migliore crossed the plate on a passed ball, tying the game at 6-6.

Blue reliever Amber Braun worked around a Benoit single in the top of the seventh, keeping the score 6-6, setting up Tsang's heroics. In the bottom of the inning, Babson's Conway got a pop-out and a ground-out, before Tsang laced a 1-1 pitch to dead center for the walk-off win.

Havrilla led the Blue at the plate, going 2-for-2 with a home run and three RBI, while Tsang and Migliore also drove in runs for Wellesley. Lindsay Johnson got the start for the Blue, throwing six and a third, allowing 12 hits, and five earned runs with six strikeouts. Braun came on in relief, throwing two-thirds of an inning, allowing no hits, and earning the win.

Lacy led Babson going 3-for-4 with three RBI and a pair of runs scored. Morris and Schmid added two-hit games, while Merullo and Schmid drove in runs for the Beavers. Conway threw six and two-thirds for Babson, suffering just her second loss of the season. She allowed six earned runs on seven hits.

In game two, Babson took an early lead, as Lacy reached on an infield single and Merullo blasted a home run to right center to make it 2-0, Beavers. Wellesley got one back in the bottom half of the inning, using a Havrilla single and a Kendra Coleman sacrifice fly to cut the lead to 2-1.

The visitors pushed their lead to 3-1 in the top of the third as a Merullo walk came around to score on a Benoit single. Wellesley answered again, cutting the lead to 3-2, as a Kendra Coleman single scored on a Babson error after Pisac singled.

Wellesley scored six runs in the bottom of the sixth inning, taking an 8-3 lead, using five hits, including a grand slam from Pisac. Havrilla led off the inning with a double to left, Migliore was hit by a pitch, and Kendra Coleman recorded an infield single to load the bases. Pisac then blasted a grand slam over the right field fence to give Wellesley a 6-3 lead. The Blue tacked on two more, with singles from Tsang and LaBouyer that each came around to score, making it 8-3 Wellesley.

After the sixth inning was completed, the game was called due to darkness, closing out the sweep for the Blue.

Tsang, LaBouyer, Havrilla, Kendra Coleman, and Pisac all recorded two-hit games to lead the Wellesley offense. Pisac recorded four RBI, while LaBouyer and Coleman each drove in runs. Braun got her second win of the day, throwing six innings, allowing three runs on four hits with three strikeouts.

For Babson, Lacy, Merullo, Benoit, and Guido all recorded hits to account for the Beaver offense. Merullo ended the game with a pair of RBI, while Benoit drove in the other Babson run. Meghan Hayes suffered the loss, throwing five and two thirds of an inning, allowing five earned runs on eight hits with four strikeouts. Tess Rubega also threw for the Beavers, allowing two runs on two hits in a third of an inning.

Wellesley is back in action tomorrow at Smith College in a doubleheader beginning at 2:00pm. Babson returns home to host Coast Guard in a twinbill beginning at 12:00pm.