Wellesley Softball Splits Doubleheader with Wheaton

WELLESLEY, Mass. – The Wellesley College softball team split a New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference doubleheader with Wheaton College on Friday evening. The Blue move to 2-17 overall and 1-7 in the conference. Wheaton stands at 13-11 overall and 4-4 in the NEWMAC.

Game 1 | Wellesley 2, Wheaton 1 | Final

Blue starting pitcher Marisa Sgambati (Scottsdale, Ariz.) collected her first career collegiate win after dealing a complete game with no earned runs and a pair of strikeouts. Senior Sarah Pritchard (Malta, N.Y.) went 4.2 innings and allowed one earned run in the loss.

After two scoreless innings to begin game one, sophomore Elli DeCleene (North Reading, Mass.) reached on an error to leadoff. Senior Marisa Hensch (Carlsbad, Calif.) then laid down a perfect sacrifice bunt to set up classmate Hayley Moniz (Westfield, Mass.) who singled to left to bring home a run. The Blue added another run after Hensch blasted a solo home run to left center. It was the third career home run for Hensch and first of the season for Wellesley.

The Lyons were able to get one back in the sixth after Juliette Zito (Woodbridge, Conn.) crossed home on a wild pitch. With a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the frame, the Blue held the bases loaded with just one out, but left the runners stranded and took the one run lead into the final inning. Sgambati retired the side in order and the Blue held on 2-1.

Game 2 | Wheaton 6, Wellesley 4 | Final

First year Charis Chung (San Gabriel, Calif.) got the Blue started in the first inning of game two with an RBI groundout to the pitcher scoring Hensch. Wheaton would respond with a four run inning in the third off of four hits and two costly Blue errors.

In the bottom half of the fourth, Chung singled to left center to get the Blue started. She would advance to third off of two groundouts and finally senior Holly Chin (Newton, Mass.) knocked a single to left to cut the deficit to 4-2. The Lyons battled back with one run in its next two innings and held a 6-2 lead. Wellesley was able to add two more in the sixth after Moniz stole second and Hensch scored on the throw. Moniz would eventually come around to score on a wild pitch and cut the lead to 6-4. The Blue had a total of four baserunners in the frame on no hits and two errors.

Hensch added a second hit in the seventh inning, but the Blue couldn't gather any more momentum and fell 6-4 in game two. Senior Emma Candelaria (Hampton Bays, N.Y.) went 6.2 innings and struck out five to earn the win.

The Blue are back on the diamond tomorrow at 12:00 and 2:00 PM for a senior day doubleheader with Clark. Wheaton returns back home to host Smith tomorrow at noon.