Wellesley Softball Drops Game One, Ties Game Two with Nichols

WELLESLEY, Mass. - Wellesley College softball lost game one before tying in the second game against Nichols in the Blue's home opener on Wednesday.

First year Emeline Gaunce (Los Altos, Calif.) had a pair of RBIs for the Blue (0-3-1) while sophomore Erin Gour (Westfield, Mass.) drove in two runs for the Bison (3-8-1).

Game 1 | Nichols 8, Wellesley 2 | Final

A five-run fourth propelled the Bison to a game one win. Senior Allie Brown (Middlebury, Conn.) got Nichols on the board scoring on a throwing error. 

The Blue took a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the third. Gaunce drove in a run on a single down the left field line before being driven in on a double from senior Marisa Sgambati (Scottsdale, Ariz.)

Gour opened the fourth-inning offense for the Bison with an RBI single. First year Bailey Littlefield (Saco, Maine) later upped the lead to 5-2 with a two-run double. By the time the damage was done the Bison led 6-2. Neither team scored again until the seventh, when Nichols when junior Mackenzie Jackson (Dayville, Conn.) singled in a run. The Bison closed an 8-2 win.

First Olivia Pedro (North Providence, R.I.) tossed three innings with three strikeouts for Nichols while senior Alyssa Ouellette (Auburn, N.H.) pitched four scoreless innings. Sgambati struck out two in three innings for the Blue, while sophomore Kate Liston (Boulder, Colo.) added three innings. Both teams had seven hits with Nichols drawing four walks.

Game 2 | Wellesley 3, Nichols 3 | Final (8 Innings)

The Blue and the Bison tied in game two due to darkness after a late comeback by Wellesley.

Senior Ingrid Hsu (San Ramon, Calif.) scored early for Wellesley on a fielder's choice Before Nichols scored three in the top of third, including one run on a single from Gour and one on a sacrifice fly from first year Ava Slavinsky (Redding, Conn.). 

Gaunce drove in a run for the Blue on a double to cut the lead to 3-2 in the bottom of the third before a pitcher's duel ensued, with neither team scoring in the fourth through six innings. 

Down one run in the bottom of the seventh, junior Julz Vargas (Los Angeles, Calif.) drove in Hsu to tie the game and keep Wellesley alive. Neither team scored in the eighth before the game was called at 3-3 due to darkness. 

Sophomore Lauren Young (Fresno, Calif.) threw a complete game for the Blue with four K's while sophomore Chelsea Indyk (Easthampton, Mass.) struck out a pair for the Bison. The Bison had seven hits to Wellesley's five.

The Blue begin their spring break trip in Texas next Monday with 6:00 and 8:00 PM EST games at Texas Lutheran while the Bison return home next Wednesday to host Mitchell at 2:30 and 4:30.