Wheaton Nabs Doubleheader Sweep over Blue Softball

NORTON, Mass. – The Wheaton College softball team swept two games from Wellesley College in a New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) doubleheader on Sunday afternoon at Clark Field by identical 4-3 scores.

In game one, Sophomore Emily Berardi pushed her record to 5-4 overall on the season scattering ten hits over five-and-one-thirds innings, allowed three runs (two earned), issued two walks and struck out two hitters. Classmate Noelle Christmas  earned her second save tossing one-and-two-thirds of shutout ball.

Junior Lindsay Johnson was dealt the loss on one-and-two-thirds innings, five hits, four runs (all earned), two walks and one strikeout. Senior Sarah Schwartzmeyer held the Lyons scoreless over four-and-one-thirds innings, yielded one hit, one walk and fanned a game-high seven batters.

Wheaton scored all four of its runs in the second utilizing five hits including three extra-base knocks. Laflam led off the frame with a single to left field and advanced to third on a double to right by Drury. Freshman Erin Deneen plated the Lyons first run with a sac fly to right field helping bump the team's record to 17-5 overall when scoring first.

Juniors Ashley Brillon and Jenna Rocha followed with back-to-back RBI doubles and freshman Marissa Timoteo (Jupiter, Fla./Jupiter) capped the scoring with a run-producing single through the left side.

In the fifth, senior Lauren Goldfarb answered for Wellesley with a two-run double to center field to cut into the deficit to 4-2. Sophomore Emilyrose Havrilla ripped an RBI single to right field to make it 4-3 but was caught in a rundown at second base (2-5-4) to end the visitors rally.

Berardi stymied the Blue's threat in the sixth with one out and runners at first and third with a strikeout and ground out. In the seventh, Berardi pitched a clean inning inducing two ground outs while ending the contest with a punchout.

For Wellesley, Goldfarb finished 3-for-4 with a pair of RBI in game one, while Jayne Ellis picked up a pair of singles in the 10-hit effort. Wheaton's Rocha led the Lyons with two hits, as the team needed just six hits to top the Blue.

In game two, junior Allison Baker claimed her 11th win of the season in relief for the Lyons allowing three hits and one run (earned) in two-and-two-thirds innings pitched. Christmas took the no-decision over four-and-one-thirds innings, six hits, two runs (both earned) and two strikeouts.

Goldfarb picked up the loss in three-and-two-thirds innings pitched, one hit, two runs (one earned), two free passes and three strikeouts. Schwartzmeyer hurled three innings, yielded five hits, two runs (all earned), one walk and three strikeouts.

Wheaton walked off with the game two win as Monahan scored from second base on a fielding error. Monahan reached on a fielding error to lead off the frame and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Deneen.

In the top of the seventh trailing 3-2, first-year Carly Bresee tied up the contest with an RBI single up the middle scoring classmate Jaclyn Tsang.

Wellesley held a 1-0 lead after the second inning as Havrilla plated sophomore Maria LaBouyer with a single to left field.

The Lyons responded in the third with two runs on three hits, no errors and one runner left on base. Rocha ripped a run-producing double to left center and freshman Kelly Welch  gave Wheaton the lead with an RBI double to left.

Both teams exchanged runs over the next three innings before the Lyons walked off with the win in the bottom of the seventh. LaBouyer had a solo homer in the fourth to highlight the scoring during that span for either squad.

In game two, Bresee and Havrilla collected two hits each to pace the Blue. Wheaton's Welch led the way for the Lyons, recording three of the team's six hits.

Wheaton (24-14, 12-4 NEWMAC) and Wellesley (21-12, 10-6 NEWMAC) await word on its seedings in the upcoming NEWMAC Tournament slated to start on Saturday, April 27.