Softball Surrenders Pair of Games at MIT

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – The Wellesley College softball team opened up the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) season with a pair of losses on the road to MIT on Saturday.

Game 1 | Wellesley 0, MIT 8 | Final (6 Innings)

Senior Anya Chase (Wells, Maine) was dominant on the mound, dealing six scoreless innings and allowing just one hit. Sophomore Mackenzie Relihan (Naperville, Ill.) and junior Haley Samuelsen (Houston, Texas) each drove in a pair of runs in the win.

The Engineers brought home the first run in the top of the second off an Kennedy Adkison (San Jose, Calif.) double to right field. Both teams went scoreless the following inning, but MIT got the bats hot again in the fourth and added two more runs. After leading 5-0 heading into the sixth, the Engineers were able to put the game away with four runs off five hits in the frame.

Junior Marisa Sgambati (Scottsdale, Ariz.) made the start for the Blue going 5.1 innings and striking out a pair of batters. Senior Holly Chin (Newton, Mass.) picked up the lone hit for Wellesley with a single in the first inning.

Game 2 | Wellesley 0, MIT 3 | Final

The Blue had an opportunity to go ahead in the top of the first after Hsu and DeCleene each singled to begin the inning. The 3-4-5- hitters then went down in order and Wellesley left a pair on base. MIT began the first by scoring on a throwing error by the Blue shortstop Hsu and took a 1-0 lead. Dana Bell (Bensalem, Penn.) followed with a sacrifice fly to center field, bringing home Rylie Spiegel (Bradenton, Fla.) as an unearned run.

Struggles in the field continued for the Blue in the second inning. Leadoff hitter Adkison reached on an error by Sgambati at first. Adkison came around to score with two outs after a throwing error by the Blue pitcher Young. Mit led 3-0 after two without recording a hit. Wellesley applied some pressure in the top of the fourth with a pair of singles by Chin and Young, but were left stranded. 

MIT got a complete game from Becca O'Connor (San Antonio, Texas) who struck out eight batters. Blue starter Lauren Young had an impressive outing, dealing six innings and allowing just one earned run in the loss.

Wellesley will host Smith for a doubleheader on Friday, April 8 at 3:00 and 5:00 PM. MIT will head out of conference for a pair of games at Tufts on Tuesday, April 5 at 3:00 and 5:00 PM.