Blue Softball Closes Out Halted Babson Game with 6-4 Win

WELLESLEY, Mass. -- The Wellesley College softball team finished out a 6-4 win over crosstown and NEWMAC-rival Babson on Wednesday afternoon. The game originally started March 29th and was suspended due to darkness after four innings. The win lifts Wellesley to 20-9, 9-3 in the NEWMAC, while Babson dips to 22-10, 10-4 in NEWMAC play.

Wellesley needed nine outs to make the game final, holding on to a slim 6-4 lead. Lindsay Johnson entered the game to pitch for the Blue, holding Babson scoreless over three innings, allowing three hits and one walk, and striking out a pair to earn the save. Meanwhile, Babson's Kathleen Conway kept Wellesley's bats at bay, coming on in relief, allowing two hits in two innings, with three strikeouts.

Babson had base runners in each of the last three innings, including two on in the top of the seventh. Johnson, however, forced two pop outs and a groundout to end the threat. The final out of the game was a fantastic defensive play from Wellesley shortstop, Emilyrose Havrilla, who went deep to her right for a ball, while Jayne Ellis scooped it on the other end to record the final out.

In the start of the game on May 29th, Babson struck first, opening a 3-0 lead after three. In the top of the first, the big hit came from Ashleigh Phelps as her single to left plated Catie Funk and Emily Morris for a 2-0 lead. The Beavers got another in the top of the third, as Funk blasted a homerun off of the scoreboard in left field to make it 3-0.

Wellesley took the lead in the bottom of the third, scoring four runs on five hits. Ellis started the scoring with an RBI single that plated Abby Casey, while a Carly Bresee single scored both Mara Blesoff and Ellis. Havrilla then made it 4-3 Wellesley with an RBI single that scored Bresee. Babson pitcher Megan Brain then came on in relief to retire the Blue in the inning.

The Beavers tied it at 4-4 with a run in the top of the fourth. Kelly King led off the inning with a walk and came around to score on a Morris single to center. Babson nearly took the lead after Funk knocked a single to center, but Wellesley's Casey gunned down the Beaver baserunner at the plate to preserve the tie.

Wellesley nabbed the lead once again in the bottom of the fourth, with a two-out rally that plated a pair. After two quick outs, Wellesley worked four-straight walks, as Lauren Goldfarb, Ellis, Blesoff and finally, Bresee earned bases on ball, with the last one, sending home a run for the Blue. Wellesley then made it 6-4 after a Havrilla single scored Ellis.

Four Wellesley players recorded two-hit games, as Casey, Ellis, Bresee and Havrilla all collected a pair of singles. Bresee and Havrilla drove in two runs each for the Blue, while Ellis also recorded an RBI. Goldfarb picked up the win for the Blue, throwing four innings, allowing four runs on six hits with two walks.

Babson's offense was paced by two hits each from Phelps, Schmid and Funk. Phelps drove in a pair, while Funk and Morris each added RBI. Four different pitchers threw for the Beavers, with Brain being tagged with the loss.

Wellesley is back in action on Friday, traveling to Wheaton for a key NEWMAC doubleheader, beginning at 3:00pm. Babson returns to the field on Thursday, hosting Lesley in a non-conference twinbill starting at 3:30pm.