Sophomore Jessica Budz drove in a pair of Wellesley runs with an RBI single in game one (Robert Oliver).
Sophomore Jessica Budz drove in a pair of Wellesley runs with an RBI single in game one (Robert Oliver).

Endicott Sweeps Blue Softball In Non-Conference Doubleheader

BEVERLEY, Mass. – Endicott College took a 12-4 victory in game one before downing Wellesley College softball 8-0 in five innings in game two to sweep a non-conference doubleheader between the two teams on Wednesday at the Endicott Softball Complex. Endicott is now 15-3 overall, while the Blue slide to 6-13 on the season.

Endicott 12, Wellesley 4 (6 inn.)

Wellesley got out to 2-0 lead in the top of second inning but the Blue surrendered nine unanswered runs over the next three innings before eventually falling to the Gulls, 12-4, in six innings.

Sophomore Jessica Budz (Traverse City, Mich.) drove in a pair of Wellesley runs with an RBI single in the second but the Blue were unable to score again until the top of fifth. Budz finished the game 2-for-3.

Junior Hayley Arduini (Southington, Conn.) had a game-high four RBIs for the Gulls, as she finished 2-for-4 with a pair of RBI singles and a run scored. Senior Emily Sharpe (South Glens Falls, N.Y.) and first year Adrianna Favreau (Tewksbury, Mass.) each went 3-for-4 with three runs scored, with Favreau also scoring Sharpe with an RBI triple as part of a four-run bottom of the third inning. Sophomore Rylie Strong (Arvada, Colo) pitched 4.1 innings and was charged with three runs to improve to 1-1 on the season.

Endicott quickly erased the early Blue lead, scoring on an error and a sacrifice fly from Arduini to knot the score 2-2 in the bottom of the second. The Gulls increased their advantage to 6-2 in the third, as Favreau's RBI triple was followed by an error that allowed a run to score and a two-run double to left off the bat of graduate student Lindsee Allienello (East Providence, R.I.). Junior Gina DeMilt (Princeton, N.J.), Favreau and Arduini would each follow with RBI singles in the fourth to run the Endicott lead to 9-2. 

Wellesley sophomore Kendall Smith (Turlock, Calif.) singled to score senior Amanda Manning (Chico, Calif.) and first year Julianne Griffin (Blue Bell, Pa.) worked a bases loaded walk to cut the deficit to 9-4 in the top of the fifth but the Blue rally ended with the bases loaded. Manning finished the game 3-for-4, while Griffin reached based three times, including a double in the top of the second. 

Endicott would add three more runs to walk-off with a 12-4 victory in the sixth inning. Arduini ended the game with a two-RBI single, scoring Sharpe and first year Zoe Rose (Carlstadt, N.J.) in the sixth after DeMilt registered her second RBI single of the game in the fifth.

Endicott 8, Wellesley 0 (5 inn.) 

Endicott continued to swing the bats well in game two, racking-up ten hits and eight runs in five innings to end the game via the eight run rule.

Wellesley managed just two hits in the nightcap, as Endicott Laura Somerville (Suffield, Conn.) struck out three over five innings to improve to 4-0 on the year. Wellesley sophomore Kalei Oliver (Vista, Calif.) reached base with a single in the top of the first and senior Zein Aburish (Alexandria, Va.) recorded a single in the top of the fifth. 

The Gulls scored two in the bottom of the first thanks to an RBI single from Sharpe and an RBI groundout from Arduini. DeMilt would make the score 3-0 with another RBI groundout in the bottom of the second but Endicott would walk off again thanks to a five-run bottom of the fifth inning. 

Sharpe doubled to open the inning before Favreau moved her to third with a single. With runners on the corners and no outs, Sharpe scored on a wild pitch that allowed Favreau to move to second. Arduini grounded out but a walk to Olivia Odermatt (Cheshire, Conn.) and a wild pitch put runners on the corners again. Sophomore Hannah Llewellyn (Danvers, Mass.) followed with an RBI single to make the score 5-0 before the next batter, Peyton Atkins (Goshen, N.Y.) walked to load the bases with one out. 

Wellesley junior Sydney Hopper (Newcastle, Wash.) replaced starter Madeline Bianchi (Lakeville, Minn.) and got senior Kayla Sheldon (Burlington, Mass.) to fly out for the second out while the sixth Endicott run crossed on the sacrifice. However, DeMilt ended the contest with a single through the right side, scoring Atkins and Llewellyn to end the game. Bianchi is now 0-3 on the year after giving up seven earned in 4.1 innings of work. 

Wellesley returns home to host Coast Guard in a New England Women's & Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) doubleheader on Saturday, April 14 at 12:00 PM. Endicott will host Roger Williams on Friday, April 13 at 2:00 PM.