Blue Softball Ends NEWMAC Regular Season With Split at MIT

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – Sophomore Madeline Bianchi (Lakeville, Minn.) pitched a complete game shutout to lead Wellesley College softball to a 1-0 victory in game one before No. 20 MIT rallied for an 8-1 victory in game two of a New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) doubleheader on Saturday afternoon at Briggs Field. 

The Blue are now an even 16-16 on the year and 9-9 in NEWMAC games. MIT, the top-ranked team in the region, is now 25-9 overall and 15-3 in conference 

Game One: Wellesley 1, MIT 0

Bianchi threw a complete game, five hit shutout, striking out three and walking three to pick up her 11th win of the year (11-8) in the opener.

The Blue managed just four hits in the contest. Senior Carly Bresee (Rancho Santa Margarita Calif.) had two hits, while Manning and classmate Julia Warner (Kenmore, Wash.) had the others.

The Engineers were paced by Jasmin Joseph (Woodland Hills, Calif.), as the sophomore matched Bresee with two hits from the leadoff spot. Sophomores Amanda Lee (Saratoga, Calif.), Zoe Hinton (Aurora, Colo.) and Katherine Shade (Glencoe, Ill.).

The game remained scoreless until Wellesley pushed across the contests' only run in the top of the fifth inning. With one out in the frame, senior Jaclyn Tsang (Manalapan, N.J.) reached on a fielding error and moved to second via a sacrifice bunt. Sophomore Amanda Manning (Durham, Calif.) then drove in Tsang with an RBI single to left.

MIT senior Alexandra Marshall (Glen Head, N.Y.) took the loss (16-7), pitching seven innings and surrendering just one unearned run on four hits while striking out eight. 

The game ended in dramatic fashion in the bottom of the seventh inning when MIT junior Monica Shifflet (Poway, Calif.) lined a ball to shortstop that went off the foot of the runner on second, resulting in an interference call that ended the contest.

Game Two: MIT 8, Wellesley 1

Marshall returned in game two to earn her 17th win of the year (17-7) for MIT. The senior went five innings, striking out a pair while allowing only two hits.

Manning collected two more hits in game two, also scoring the lone Wellesley run on an RBI base hit from junior Ashtyn Coleman (Scottsdale, Ariz.).

The Engineers hammed out 11 hits in game two. Joseph continued to roll in the leadoff spot in the order, finishing with a game-high three hits, including a double and a triple, two runs scored and two RBIs. Junior Natalie Shifflet (Poway, Calif.) added a pair of hits and scored a run for MIT.

MIT scored all eight of their runs over the first four innings of the contest. The Engineers got their first three runs via sacrifice flies as Hinton, senior Tori Jensen and Shade all recorded RBIs. Lee added an RBI single in the third, before first year Amber VanHemel (Coconut Creek, Fla.) lifted a sac fly to center to make the score 5-0 later in the inning. Joseph manufactured the final three Engineer runs. The sophomore brought in two run with an RBI triple and scored on a wild pitch in the inning.

MIT will travel to Salve Regina on Tuesday, April 26 for a makeup doubleheader at 4:00 PM. Wellesley will await word on seeding for the NEWMAC tournament following the completion of conference play this weekend.