Wellesley Softball Downs MIT to Open NEWMAC Tournament

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. -- In the opening round of the 2013 NEWMAC Softball Tournament, fourth-seeded Wellesley (22-12) needed just two hits to get by fifth-seeded MIT (17-13). Wellesley used timely hitting to score runs in the first and fifth innings, while solid pitching from starter Sarah Schwartzmeyer and reliever Lauren Goldfarb kept MIT off the scoreboard. 

Schwartzmeyer got the win for the Blue, moving to 10-3 on the season. She threw three and a third innings, allowing four hits with a walk and two strikeouts. Goldfarb picked up the save, tossing three and two-thirds, allowing two hits with a walk and four strikeouts. 

MIT's Ellie Fodor earned the hard-luck loss, throwing six innings allowing just two hits and one earned run (two total). She walked a pair and struck out three, moving to 10-6 on the season. 

Wellesley struck for a run in the bottom of the first inning, off of an RBI single from Jayne Ellis. Goldfarb reached on a fielders choice and stole second, scoring on Ellis' base knock to right field.

MIT threatened in the top of the fourth, as singles from Karly McLaughlin and Kelly Wang put runners on first and second with just one out. The Blue's Goldfarb came in in relief, however, shutting down the Engineers by striking out two straight batters to get out of the inning.

Wellesley added an insurance run in the bottom of the fifth inning, as a leadoff walk to Mara Blesoff came around to score. After the walk, a sacrifice bunt put pinch runner Jennifer Migliore on second and a bunt single from Mariah Philips advanced her to third. An MIT throwing error on a grounder by Carly Bresee then allowed Migliore to score, making it 2-0.

MIT rallied in the top of the seventh, as a double from Sarah Van Belleghem and an infield single from Alexandra Marshall put runners on the corners with two down. Goldfarb then induced a ground ball second to end the game and preserve the shut out for Wellesley.

Wellesley's offense was limited to an RBI single from Ellis and an infield basehit from Philips. MIT's Van Belleghem and Marshall collected two hits each, with Bellenghem recording the only extra base hit of the game.

Wellesley now moves on to play number one seed and host Springfield in game two.