Softball Tops Union, Falls To No.1 Tufts to Open 2015

CLERMONT, Fla. – Wellesley College softball scored a pair of runs in both the fourth and the fifth innings to defeat Union College, 4-2, on Saturday afternoon at the National Training Center Spring Games. No. 1 Tufts defeated the Blue, 7-2, in Wellesley's first game of the day. Wellesley now stands at 1-1 overall after day one of the season.

No. 1 Tufts 7, Wellesley 2

The Blue opened the day with a matchup against two-time defending national champion Tufts. After a pair of scoreless innings to open the contest, the Jumbos broke the game open in the top of third, scoring six runs on five hits and a pair of Wellesley errors to take a 6-0 lead.

The Blue got a run back in the bottom of the fifth inning, cutting the deficit to 6-1. With one out in the inning, first year Julia Warner (Kenmore, Wa.) singled to left field before stealing second. Warner then crossed the plate thanks to an error by the Tufts' leftfielder when senior Mariah Philips (Palo Alto, Claif.) sent a single out to left that rolled through the outfielders legs and all the way to the wall. Philips advanced to third on the play but the Blue were unable to get another run across the plate.

Warner went the distance in the circle for the Blue, surrendering nine hits and seven runs, three earned, over seven innings of work in her collegiate debut. Allyson Fournier (East Windsor, Conn.) pitched four innings to earn eighth victory of the season for the Jumbos, who improved to 14-0 overall.

Tufts tacked on another run in the top of the seventh inning to again increase their lead to six runs when Michelle Cooprider (Hokinton, Mass) scored on a Marly Becker (Yorktown Heights, N.Y.) sacrifice fly. Philips drove home the Blue's final run of the game with a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the inning before the Jumbos closed out the 7-2 victory.

Wellesley 4, Union 2

The Blue bounced back to earn their first victory of the season in game two, rallying to retake a two-run  lead in the bottom of the fifth inning against Union. First year Madeline Bianchi (Lakeville, Minn.) pitched six innings, surrendering a pair of runs to earn her first collegiate victory.

After three scoreless innings to open the game, Wellesley struck first to take a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the fourth inning. Senior Emilyrose Havrilla (Caldwell, N.J.) ripped a triple into right center, scoring Anna Pisac (Snohomish, Wa.), before sophomore Kendra Coleman (Scottsdale, Ariz.) drove in Havrilla with a single to right field.

Union responded with two runs in the top of the fifth inning, as senior Camille Corbin (San Diego, Calif.) delivered a big two-RBI single to left field to score Courtney Casey (Somerville, Mass.) and Dani Hennel (Delanson, N.Y.).

With the game tied again, Wellesley countered with two more runs in the bottom of the fifth. Pisac delivered her own two-RBI hit, towering a double into centerfield to score first year Amanda Manning (Durham, Calif.) and junior Carly Bresee (Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.). From there, Bianchi shut the door as the Blue took the 4-2 victory.

Wellesley returns to action tomorrow for a pair of games at the National Training Center. The Blue will take on Wis-Whitewater and 9:00 AM before battling Middlebury at 11:00 AM.