Blue Softball Edged by Chicago, Defeats Carthage to Close Trip to Florida

WELLESLEY, Mass. — Wellesley College softball wrapped up its annual spring training trip to Florida on Wednesday, defeating Carthage College, 8-6, in their final game after dropping a 6-5 decision in eight innings to the University of Chicago at the National Training Center (NTC) in Clermont. The Blue will return home from the NTC Spring Games with a record of 4-4 overall.  

Chicago 6, Wellesley 5 (8 innings)

Wellesley opened the contest with a pair of runs in the top of the first inning. Anna Pisac ripped a double to left field to score Jaclyn Tsang for the first run of the game before coming around to score later in the inning when starting pitcher Julia Warner drew a bases loaded walk with two outs. 

Chicago quickly got a run back in the bottom of the first when Kristin Lopez lifted a sacrifice fly to left field to score Devan Parkison. Chicago would also add a run in the bottom of the third inning but not before the Blue tacked one on in the top half of the inning. Following a leadoff single by Maria LaBouyer, Emilyrose Havrilla doubled to centerfield, scoring LaBoyer from second after she had moved over thanks to a sacrifice bunt from Pisac. 

The Maroons took their first lead of the game in the bottom of the fourth inning, scoring two runs on three hits and a stolen base. Anna Woolery delivered an RBI-single with one away in the inning to before scoring on aa double steal later in the inning to put Chicago out ahead 4-3.

Wellesley tied the contest in the top of the seventh inning, eventually forcing extra innings when Havrilla drove in her second run of the contest with two outs in the inning to tie the game at 4-4. 

In the top of the eighth, the Blue took advantage of the international tiebreaker, scoring Kendra Coleman from second on a single by Abby Casey, after a bunt single from Mariah Philips moved her to third. However, both Casey and Philips got caught in run downs on the play, leaving the Blue with just one run heading into the bottom of the eighth. 

With Olivia Hanley on second to open the inning, Woolery and Parkison laid down bunt singles to load the bases for Lopez. Lopez then lifted a single in to centerfield to drive home her second and third RBIs of the game and give the Maroons the 6-5 victory. 

Wellesley 8, Carthage 6

The Blue belted 13 hits over six innings to defeat Carthage 8-6 in their final game of the spring at the National Training Center. The Blue complete the NTC Spring Games with a 4-4 record.

Pisac led the charge with a game-high three RBIs, including a two-RBI single in the bottom of the first inning. The Wellesley sophomore would later add an RBI single on a base hit as part of a four run bottom of the third inning to help the Blue retake the lead after Carthage plated four runs of their own in the top of the second. 

Carthage retook the lead in the top of the fourth inning when Olivia Scott singled to bring around Tiffani Palmatier. Palmatier finished with a game-high three hits, scoring a pair of runs for Carthage (4-4 overall).  

The Blue tacked on a pair of runs in the bottom of the sixth inning. Bresee doubled to drive home Julia Warner to tie the contest before Havrilla knocked in Bresee for what would be the winning run. 

First year Madeline Banchi pitched a complete game, going seven innings and striking out three to earn her fourth win of the season. 

Wellesley will return home to face Clark in its first New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference doubleheader of the season on Saturday at 12:00 PM.