Game Two Rally Falls Short as Blue Softball Splits with Smith

WELLESLEY, Mass. -- Wellesley College softball took a 6-4 victory over Smith College in game one before dropping a 7-6 final in game two of a New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) doubleheader on Saturday afternoon at the Wellesley Outdoor Fields Complex. Wellesley moves to 8-6 overall (2-2 NEWMAC), while Smith now stands at 5-11 (1-7 NEWMAC).

Game One: Wellesley 6, Smith 4

 Smith's Joanna Giordano (South Salem, N.Y.) opened game one with a lead off single for the Pioneers, advancing to third on a pair of stolen bases before Edie Richardson (Franklin, Mass.) singled to right center to score the first run of the afternoon. 

Wellesley countered with a pair of runs in the bottom of the first inning. After a double from Kendra Coleman (Scottsdale, Ariz.) and and a single from Amanda Manning (Durham, Calif.) to open the home half, Coleman scored from third on an errant throw from the Smith catcher to tie the game. Manning would later score on a sacrifice fly from Ashtyn Coleman (Scottsdale, Ariz.) to make the score 2-1. 

The Wellesley advantage was short lived as Smith tied the game in the top of the second when Caroline Kushner (Cheshire, Conn.) scored on an error after reaching base on a single to open the inning. 

The score remained tied until the bottom of the third when the Blue took advantage of another error. After Maria LaBouyer (Yuba City, Calif.) scored on a sacrifice fly, Smith attempted to double off Emilyrose Havrilla (Caldwell, N.J.) after the throw from the infield had gone to the plate. However, the ball got away, allowing Havrilla to score. 

Wellesley extended its advantage in both the fourth and the fifth innings, as LaBoyer drove home Kendra Coleman with an RBI single in the fourth and Anna Pisac (Snohomish, Wa.) plated Havrilla with a sacrifice fly in the fifth. 

in the top of the seventh, Smith picked up two quick outs before a pair of runs came across to pull the Pioneers to within two. Sarah Tully (West Simsbury, Conn.) ripped a single to centerfield before scoring when the next batter, Allison Snyder (Succasunna, N.J.), doubled. Snyder would also score on the play, advancing to third on a throw to home before scoring on an errant throw from the Blue. 

Wellesley starter Madeline Bianchi (Lakeville, Minn.) then retired the side, getting a ground ball out to end the game and earn her fifth win of the season. Rowan Turner also went the distance for Smith, taking the loss despite surrendering only three earned and striking out three. 

Game Two:  Smith 7, Wellesley 6

Smith again jumped out to the lead in game two, scoring a pair of runs in the top of the first inning thanks to a two-run blast from Tori Brown (New Market, Md.). The home run was the first of two in the contest for the Pioneers, who also tacked on what would turn out to be the game-winning run in the top of the seventh inning when Snyder hit a two-run shot of her own.

Wellesley bounced back from the early long ball to take the lead in the bottom of the second inning. After the Blue pushed across a run on a Kendra Coleman RBI single in the first, Jaclyn Tsang (Manalapan, N.J.) tied the contest with her own RBI single before scoring on an error later in the inning. 

The Blue held the lead until the top of the fourth inning. With two outs and runners on first and third, the Pioneers executed a double steal as Ruth Zimmerman (Edison, N.J.) came across the plate to make the score 3-3. 

Smith then added two runs in the top half of the fifth inning when Snyder singled to centerfield to score Tully before Kushner scored when the throw attempting to cut down Tully at home got away. Snyder's two run shot in the top of seventh inning then gave Smith a 7-3 advantage.  

Trailing by their biggest deficit of the afternoon, Wellesley nearly rallied past the Pioneers in the bottom of the seventh inning. LaBoyer and Kendra Coleman opened the inning with back-to-back singles before Havrilla walked to load the bases for Carly Bresee (Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.). Bresee then cut the deficit to two with a two-RBI base hit to centerfield. 

The Blue got one more back, when Abby Casey (Milford, Conn.) brought Havrilla around to score, but would ultimately end up one run short when starting pitcher Julia Warner's (Kenmore, Wa.) line drive back up the middle found the glove of Smith pitcher Natalie Burchat for the final out. 

Wellesley will now look ahead to a Tuesday NEWMAC doubleheader versus Emerson at 3:00 PM at the Wellesley Outdoor Fields Complex. Smith will also be in action on Tuesday when they take on non-conference Westfield State at 3:30 PM.