Wellesley Softball Shuts Out Clark in NEWMAC Doubleheader

WELLESLEY, Mass. -- The Wellesley College softball team swept Clark University in a NEWMAC doubleheader on Saturday afternoon in Wellesley. The Blue came out on top of game one, 4-0, and then won, 8-0, in five innings in game two.

The wins lift the Blue to 19-8 overall, 8-3 in NEWMAC play. Clark evens its record to 12-12 overall, and dips to 4-8 in the NEWMAC. 

Wellesley used 12 hits in each game, including a walk-off three-run home run from Jaclyn Tsang in game two, to earn the sweep. In the circle, Wellesley's Lindsay Johnson and Sarah Schwartzmeyer each pitched shut outs, allowing just seven total hits in two games between them.

Wellesley plated three in the bottom of the first to open an early lead. The Blue led off with four straight singles, as Carly Bresee, Abby Casey, Lauren Goldfarb and Jayne Ellis strung together four in a row, to give the Blue a 1-0 advantage. A sacrifice fly from Maria LaBouyer made it 2-0, while a Clark miscue stretched the Wellesley lead to 3-0.

The Blue added to the lead in the bottom of the second, as singles from Emilyrose Havrilla and Bresee led off the frame, while a bunt single from Casey plated a run.

The four runs would be all Wellesley needed, as Johnson shut down Clark the rest of the way. Johnson finished with a seven inning shutout, allowing four hits and a walk with seven strikeouts.

At the plate, Casey finished 3-for-3 with an RBI, while Goldfarb, Bresee, Kimberly Cabral each picked up a pair of hits. Wellesley ended the game with 12 total hits, all singles.

For Clark, Maya Allen went 2-for-2 with a walk, while Alyssa Wright doubled in the effort. Nicole Meuse suffered the loss, throwing six innings, allowing four runs (only two earned), while scattering 12 hits.

In game two, Wellesley equaled it's game one total of 12 hits, but pounded out five extra base knocks to nab an 8-0, five-inning win.

Once again, the Blue struck for three runs in the bottom of the first, as an RBI double from Goldfarb and a two-run home run from Ellis provided the Wellesley offense. The Blue then extended the lead to 4-0 as Tsang doubled, was singled to third and then scored on a double steal.

Clark held the Blue for three straight innings, but Wellesley was able to end the game with four runs in the bottom of the fifth. Havrilla started the scoring with an RBI single that plated Ellis, before a Mariah Philips walk set up Tsang for her walk-off hit. Tsang laced a pitch to deep center for a three-run homer to end the game at 8-0.

Tsang finished 3-for-3 with a double, a homerun and three RBI, while LaBouyer also added three hits in three trips to the plate. Ellis drove in a pair of runs, while Havrilla and Goldfarb each added solo RBI.

Wellesley's Schwartzmeyer earned the shut out win, throwing five innings, allowing just three hits and a walk, while striking out seven.

For Clark, singles from Mel Melkonian, Rachel Kraytenberg and Veronica Shader provided the only offense.

Clark returns to the field tomorrow, hosting a NEWMAC doubleheader against Wheaton beginning at 12:00pm. Wellesley is back in action on Monday, facing Amherst College at 4:30pm. Due to the Boston Marathon, Rt. 135 will be closed until 2:45pm, so please plan accordingly.