Wellesley Softball Splits Twinbill Against #23 Wheaton

NORTON, Mass. – The Wellesley College softball team split a NEWMAC twinbill on the road at #23 Wheaton College on Friday afternoon at Clark Field. The Blue took game one by a 4-1 score, while the Lyons rebounded in game two with a 6-5 triumph.

The teams remain tied atop the NEWMAC standings, each carrying a 10-2 conference mark. The split moved Wellesley to 16-8 overall, while Wheaton goes to 26-4. 

In game one, Wellesley senior Lindsay Johnson hurled a complete game alongside four hits, one run (earned), zero walks and a game-high six strikeouts to improve to 8-4 on the season.

Wheaton junior Emily Berardi shouldered the loss on four innings, seven hits, three runs (all earned), one walk and three strikeouts. Noelle Christmas finished the last three innings allowing three hits and one run (earned) in addition to a pair of strikeouts.

The Lyons struck first in the bottom of the second inning as sophomore Kelly Welch launched an opposite field home run to right-center for a 1-0 advantage.

Blue first-year Ashtyn Coleman answered for the visitors in the third with a game-tying single through the right side of the infield, while senior Jennifer Migliore lifted a sac fly in foul territory to right field to take a 2-1 lead in the fourth. First-year Anna Pisac also scored on the play on a throwing error towards home plate.

Wellesley first-year Kendra Coleman gave the Blue an insurance run in the fifth with an RBI double to right-center to add onto the margin at 4-1.

Johnson kept Wheaton's offense at bay over the next two frames squandering a two-out scoring threat in the sixth, while pitching a 1-2-3 frame in the seventh.

Wellesley was paced by sophomore Jaclyn Tsang and junior Emilyrose Havrilla who each picked up a pair of hits in the first game. Each Coleman sister drove in a run, while Migliore also added an RBI in the win. 

In game two, Wheaton senior Allison Baker went the distance to push her record to 11-2 on the season allowing nine hits, five runs (four earned), one walk and also struck out one batter. Johnson suffered the loss in game two on 6 1/3 innings pitched, ten hits, six runs (five earned), four walks and three strikeouts.

The Blue held a 2-0 advantaged after the top half of the second inning as Migliore and junior Abby Casey both had RBI doubles in the frame.

Wheaton answered by scoring five runs in the bottom of the third. The Lyons benefitted from a two-run throwing error and a three-run home run by Welch which hooked just around the left field foul pole.

Wellesley pulled to within one at 5-4 with two runs in the fourth. Singles from Mariah Philips and Migliore came around to score on a two-run double from Ashtyn Coleman.

Wellesley rallied in the top half of the seventh as Pisac eventually worked a bases loaded walk to move the game-tying run around the bases. Ashtyn Coleman had a single, Tsang was hit by a pitch and junior Maria LaBouyer reached base on a fielder's choice to set up the scoring.

Tied 5-5 in the bottom of the seventh, senior Jenna Rocha and Welch notched back-to-back singles to lead off the inning. Lyon rookie Morgan Walsh followed with a single of her own to right field to load the bases and put the game-winning run 90-feet away.

Ashtyn Coleman led the Blue offense in game two, collecting three hits with a pair of RBI. Migliore also added a two-hit performance in the loss. 

Johnson battled back with a ground out (1-2), but freshman Caroline Fairbanks reached base on a Wellesley fielding error to scratch across the game-winning run in the Lyons' next at-bat and help the hosts walk-off with a split in the doubleheader.

Both teams continue NEWMAC play with noon doubleheaders tomorrow. Wellesley will host WPI for a twinbill, with a senior day celebration before the games. Wheaton will host MIT.