Two-Run Seventh Gives Blue Softball Game One in Split with Springfield

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. — Wellesley College softball scored two runs in the top of the seventh inning of game one to earn a 4-3 victory over Springfield College on Friday evening at Potter Field. The Pride took the nightcap of the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) doubleheader with a walk-off single for their own 4-3 victory. 

With the split, Wellesley moves to 14-10 overall and 7-6 in NEWMAC games. The Pride stand at 16-15 and 11-5 in conference contests. 

Game One: Wellesley 4, Springfield 3

First year Madeline Bianchi (Lakeville, Minn) earned her ninth victory (9-5) of the season in game one, pitching a complete game and striking out five while surrendering only five hits. 

Junior Elizabeth Joseph (Stamford, Conn.) got the hosts on the board first in the contest, thanks to her sixth home run of the season. With freshman Olivia Gonzalez (East Hartford, Conn.) in scoring position, Joseph tagged a pitch over the fence to give Springfield the early 2-0 second inning lead. 

Wellesley got one run back in the top of the third inning. Despite opening the frame with back-to-back outs, first year Amanda Manning (Durham, Calif.) singled to center before coming around to score when the next batter, senior Maria LaBouyer (Yuba City, Calif.), doubled to left center to score Manning. 

Manning went on to add an RBI single of her own in the top of the fifth inning, tying the game at 2-2. Jaclyn Tsang (Manalapan, N.J.) reached on a two-base error with one away in the inning before advancing to third on an infield single from Carly Bresee (Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.). Manning then scored Tsang with an infield single of her own to tie the game. 

The game advanced to the seventh inning before the Blue broke the tie by taking their first lead of the afternoon. Tsang opened the top of the inning with a double to left center, scoring on the next batter when Bresee hit her own double to left centerfield to make the score 3-2. 

A single to left from LaBouyer advanced Bresee to third before sophomore Kendra Coleman (Scottsdale, Ariz.) added some insurance with a single to center, scoring Bresee, to give the Blue a 4-2 advantage. 

In the home half of the seventh, Joseph struck again for Springfield, hitting a home run over the right centerfield wall to trim the deficit to 4-3. However, Bianchi quickly rallied to set down the next three Springfield batters in order and close out the 4-3 victory. 

Game Two: Springfield 4, Wellesley 3

Bresee opened game two with a triple, quickly coming around to score two batters later when LaBouyer singled to left field. 

The Blue held the 1-0 advantage until the bottom of the second inning when Springfield knotted the score thanks to an error that allowed freshman Mackenzie Navarro (Taunton, Mass.) to score from third base after she had reached on a fielder's choice earlier in the inning. 

The contest stayed tied at 1-1 until the top of the fifth inning when the Blue scored two more runs to take a 3-1 lead. With one out in the inning, LaBouyer reach on an error before Kendra Coleman singled through the left side to give the Blue a pair of base runners. Senior Emilyrose Havrilla (Caldwell, N.J.) then scored LaBouyer with an RBI single through the right side. Senior Mariah Philips (Palo Alto, Calif.) then added another run thanks to a sacrifice fly that brought home Kendra Coleman. 

Wellesley took the two-run advantage into the bottom of the seventh inning until the Pride were finally able to break through. Junior Jenna Webb (Harrison, N.Y.) got the rally started with a one-out double to left centerfield. Webb then scored on a single up the middle from freshman Kirsten Drobiak (Jewett City, Conn.) before Springfield loaded the bases thanks to a single from Navarro and an intentional pass to Joseph. 

With the bases loaded and two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning, freshman Emily Reynolds (Charlton, Mass.) delivered a single to center field to score pinch runner Brielle Engelbrecht and Navarro as the Pride walked off with the 4-3 victory.

Wellesley continues NEWMAC play tomorrow afternoon at 12:00 PM with a Senior Day matchup versus MIT. Springfield will also be in action at 12:00 PM tomorrow when they travel to Wheaton for a conference doubleheader.