Wellesley Softball Salvages Split With Game Two Victory Over Smith

WELLESLEY, Mass. – First year Gen Brittingham (Aliso Viejo, Calif.) homered in the top of the first inning to help Wellesley College softball to a 9-3 victory over Smith College in game two of a New England Women's & Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) doubleheader on Sunday afternoon. Smith earned the split with a 6-5 come from behind victory in game one. 

Wellesley, who had not played since March 31st, is now 5-10 overall and 2-4 in conference. Smith ends the day at 5-14 overall and 2-6 in NEWMAC contests. 

Smith 6, Wellesley 5 

Wellesley jumped to a 2-0 lead in game one and eventually took a 3-0 advantage in the fourth, but Smith scored three runs in the bottom of the fourth and three runs in the bottom of the sixth to rally for a 6-5 victory. 

Sophomore Elodie Townsend (Mill Valley, Calif.) led the way for the Pioneers, going 3-for-4 at the dish with a double, triple, and three RBIs. Townsend started the Smith comeback with a two-run triple in the bottom of the fourth before driving in the eventual winning run with a double to center field in the bottom of the sixth. Townsend would also come around to score in the fourth, as Smith erased a 3-0 deficit by scoring three runs on five hits. 

The Blue held the advantage after scoring one run on an RBI single from sophomore Kendall Smith (Turlock, Calif.) and another on an error in the first. Sophomore Kalei Oliver (Vista, Calif.) then hit her first career home run, a solo shot, in the top of the fourth to make the score 3-0. Kendall Smith finished the game 3-for-4 with a double and two runs scored for the Blue. 

With the game tied after the fourth inning, Smith was the first team to break through, scoring three runs on four hits and one Wellesley error to take a 6-3 lead in the sixth. Senior Rowan Turner (Kansas City, Kan.) reached base to open the inning but the Pioneers did all of the damage with two outs, as three straight hits from Stephanie Konas (Glenmont, N.Y.), Tyler Feeney (Merrimac, Mass.), and Townsend, and a Wellesley error, helped the hosts grab the lead.

The Blue rallied in the top of the seventh but came-up one run short. Sophomore Autumn Brown (Marshfield, Mass.) singled to score Kendall Smith and first year Amanda Kim (Neshanic Station, N.J.) after the Blue loaded the bases with three straight singles. Unfortunately, with Brown and Brittingham on the basepaths the Blue couldn't find another hit as Smith escaped with the 6-5 win.

Wellesley 9, Smith 3

Brittingham set the tone with a first inning home run and Brown drove in three runs to help Wellesley earn the split with the Pioneers with a 9-3 victory in game two.

Kendall Smith, Oliver, and sophomore Jessica Budz (Traverse City, Mich.) all doubled, while senior Julia Warner (Kenmore, Wash.) was 2-for-4 with two RBIs and first year Julianne Griffin had a team-high three hits as the Blue bats powered Wellesley to the victory. In the circle, junior Sydney Hopper (Newcastle, Wash.) pitched a complete game, working around nine hits to improve to 2-2 on the year.

Trailing 2-0, Smith rallied to tie the game, pushing across one run in the third and fourth innings. First year Rachael Newhall (Riverside, Calif.) scored on a Makena Wagner (Hilo, Hawaii) sacrifice fly in the third and Lindsey Lord (Goffstown, N.H.) singled to score Feeney in the fourth. 

The Blue countered in the top of the fifth, scoring four runs on five hits to pull ahead, 6-2. Budz doubled with one away to start the rally before coming around to score when Kim reached on a fielders choice. Kendall Smith then doubled to move Kim to third and Brittingham walked to load the bases. With two away, Warner singled to left, scoring Kendall Smith and Kim. Griffin singled to reload the bases before Brown singled to left to drive home Brittingham. However, the rally ended when Warner was cut down trying to advance to third.

Smith got one back when Konas dropped down an RBI single in the home half of the inning, but the hosts would get no closer than the 6-3 deficit before Wellesley added three more runs in the top of the seventh. The Blue picked-up two quick outs to start the inning, but Waner and Griffin both singled before Brown cleared the bases with an RBI single to center. Oliver then capped the rally with an RBI double to help the Blue secure the 9-3 win.

Wellesley returns home to host Wheaton in a NEWMAC doubleheader on Tuesday, April 10 at 3:00 PM. Smith will take on Amherst in non-conference action Wednesday, April 11 at 3:30 PM.