Smith Bests Wellesley Softball

WELLESLEY, Mass. – Wellesley College softball dropped both halves of a NEWMAC doubleheader to Smith College on Friday.

The Pioneers (19-12-1 Overall, 9-5 NEWMAC) totaled 18 runs and 19 hits across the two games. The Blue (13-19 Overall, 5-11 Overall) had 10 hits in game two and swiped nine bases in the two games.

Game 1 | Smith 5, Wellesley 2 | Final

Smith senior Juno Shantz (Seattle, Wash.) went 2-for-4 with a triple, a home run, and four RBIs to lead the Pioneers to a 5-2 victory in game one.

Wellesley sophomore Andrea Delgado (Miami, Fla.) finished 2-for-2 with a walk and three stolen bases to lead the Blue. Delgado is now one of six players in program history with three stolen bases in a game.

Smith starter Emilie Doty (Arlington, Va.) and Wellesley starter Sarah Wicker (Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.) dueled through the opening four innings, sending the game into the fifth scoreless before the Pioneers got on the board. 

An RBI double from first year Taz Tamai (Cincinnati, Ohio) plated the first run of the day before Shantz ripped a triple to right field two batters later to score Tamai and give Smith a 2-0 lead. Shantz did more damage in the top of the seventh inning. With the Pioneers leading 2-0, Shantz smacked a three-run home run over the centerfield fence to put the visitors up 5-0. Shantz now has nine home runs on the season. 

The Blue pulled two runs back in the bottom of the seventh inning, scoring on a pair of throwing errors. However, the late Wellesley rally was shut down when Smith first year Bailey Gray (Missouri City, Texas) picked-up the save by getting the final two outs in relief of Doty.

Doty (10-6 overall) pitched 6.1, giving up two unearned runs on five hits while striking out six and walking three. Wicker (5-9 overall) went the distance for the Blue, surrendering five runs, three earned, on eight hits, while walking three and striking out three in game one.

Game 2 | Smith 13, Wellesley 9 | Final

Smith rattled off 11 hits and 13 runs to win an offensive duel with Wellesley. The Blue put up 10 hits of its own.

The Pioneers opened the scoring with a two-run double from junior Taylor Ang (San Diego, Calif.) in the first inning. In the bottom of the second Wellesley responded with two runs of its own. First year Diana Borrison (San Jose, Calif.) singled in a run with a shot up the middle. Later, classmate Kyra Parsons (Boston, Mass.) came home on a fielder's choice.

An error on each side allowed both teams to score a run in the third inning. Tamai  began a four-run top of the fourth for Smith with an RBI groundout to first. Shantz followed with a two-run single through the left side. Gray made the game 7-3 on a double to right-center.

Wellesley once again struck back, tacking on five runs in the fifth. First year Jillian Colgan (Las Vegas, Nev.) slapped a hit down the right field line, bringing in a pair of baserunners. Colgan and senior Julz Vargas (Los Angeles, Calif.) later crossed the plate on fielder's choice followed by a throwing error. First year Anisa Rodriguez (La Quinta, Calif.) gave the Blue the 8-7 lead with a two-bagger to right. 

Ang stepped up once again for Smith. After the Pioneers loaded the bases Ang cleared them with a three-run double. Another double from senior CeCe Alaniz (Bakersfield, Calif.) made it 13-9 in Smith's favor. That score remained through the end of the game.

Senior Abigail Fletcher (Bethany, Conn.) earned the win for the Pioneers. Doty grabbed the save and struck out four in relief. Colgan whiffed a pair of batters across seven innings for Wellesley.

Next up, Wellesley hosts Wheaton at 12 & 2 PM tomorrow. Smith plays at MIT at the same time.