Wellesley Sweeps NEWMAC Doubleheader Against Springfield

WELLESLEY, Mass. – The Wellesley College softball team swept a NEWMAC doubleheader against Springfield College on Friday afternoon in Wellesley. The Blue took game one against the Pride by a score of 13-5 in six innings.  In game two, Springfield fell by a 6-5 final.  With the sweep, Wellesley improved to a 13-3 conference record and move to 23-9 overall.  Springfield's NEWMAC record is now 9-6, and they drop to 16-9-1 overall.

In game one, Wellesley senior pitcher Lindsay Johnson earned her 12th win as she pitched a complete game, allowing two earned runs.  The Blue got on the board first against senior pitcher Jennifer Joseph as first-year catcher Ashtyn Coleman jumpstarted Wellesley in the third inning with a solo homerun.  Senior first baseman Jayne Ellis and junior shortstop Emilyrose Havrilla also collected RBI in the frame.  

Springfield immediately responded with a leadoff homerun in the top of the fourth by sophomore second baseman Brielle Engelbrecht, but Johnson escaped further damage on a double play started by second baseman Maria LaBouyer.  

The hosts extended the lead to 6-1 with three in the bottom of the fifth. A Pisac single to center drove in a pair of runs, while Jennifer Migliore added an infield single that made it 6-1 Blue.

Springfield answered with four in the top of the sixth, capitalizing on four hits and a Wellesley defensive miscue. An RBI single from Brittany Lally started the Pride rally, while Caitie Holik added an RBI ground out. Elizabeth Joseph had the big hit in the inning, with her single to center plating a pair of unearned runs, making it 6-5.

Wellesley put the game away with seven runs in the bottom of the sixth, using six hits and a Springfield error. Pisac launched a grand slam to left field, while LaBouyer drove in a pair of runs with a well-placed single to right. The Blue grabbed the game-clinching run as Tsang advanced home on an error, sealing the mercy-rule victory.

In game two Wellesley needed a late rally to overcome an early Springfield lead.  The Pride struck first in game two, taking advantage of three Wellesley errors on their way to a three-run first inning.  Springfield added two more off of Wellesley sophomore pitcher Amber Braun, thanks to a two-run round-tripper by first-year catcher Tasha Polana.

Lindsay Johnson relieved Braun in the fourth and stranded three runners in the fifth before Wellesley battled back with three runs in the bottom of the inning.  The rally was highlighted by an Ellis RBI double and Havrilla's eighth homerun of the year, a two-run opposite field shot off Springfield starting pitcher Ashley Marino.

The Blue added three runs off reliever Camdyn Morgillo in the bottom of the sixth, started by an RBI triple by Mariah Philips.  A wild play that started with a passed ball and ended with Philips scoring the tying run, put the go-ahead run in scoring position. An RBI single by Ellis put the Blue on top for good.  Johnson stranded the tying run on first in the seventh en route to her thirteenth win.

Wellesley closes out the regular season with a NEWMAC doubleheader at MIT at noon on Saturday, while Springfield hosts Wheaton on Saturday.