Blue Softball Tops Endicott, 10-6

WELLESLEY, Mass. — Senior Mariah Philips (Palo Alto, Calif.) drove in a game-high four RBIs as Wellesley College softball collected 12 hits over six innings in rainy and cold conditions to defeat Endicott College 10-6 on Wednesday afternoon at the Wellesley Outdoor Fields Complex. Wellesley improves to 9-6 overall with the victory, while Endicott slips to 8-8. Originally scheduled as a doubleheader, game two was cancelled due to the weather. 

After a scoreless first inning, the Gulls plated the first run of the contest in the top of the second when junior Emily Hoffman (Malden, Mass.) sent her third home run of the season over the centerfield fence to lead off the inning. 

The Blue responded in the bottom of the second, scoring three runs on four hits to take a 3-1 advantage. Sophomore Kendra Coleman (Scottsdale, Ariz.), senior Emilyrose Havrilla (Caldwell, N.J.) and junior Carly Bresee (Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.) knocked three-straight singles to open the inning before sophomore Anna Pisac (Snohomish, Wa.) replaced Coleman on the base paths on a fielder's choice. Philips then doubled to left center to clear the bases for the Blue. 

Wellesley would add four more run in the bottom of the third inning, with the first pair of runs coming on a home run from Kendra Coleman after Amanda Manning (Durham, Calif.) singled and stole second to open the inning. Wellesley then worked the bases full on a double from Havrilla, a walk to Bresee and single by Pisac before Philips picked up her fourth RBI thanks to a walk. Pisac later scored on a passed ball to increase Wellesley's lead to 7-1.

Endicott chipped away at the deficit in the top of the fourth and fifth innings. Sophomore Julia McNeil (Hauppauge, N.Y.) and junior Sam DiBella (Danvers, Mass.) both ripped singles through the left side before first year Emily Sharpe (Fort Edward, N.Y.) walked to load the bases. A groundout by Lexi Pederson (Chandler, Ariz.) then scored McNeil from third but the Gulls would only come away with one run as Blue starter Madeline Bianchi (Lakeville, Minn.) worked her way out of trouble to retire the side. 

Bianchi (6-3) went four innings for the Blue, striking out three and surrendering a pair of runs before giving way to Julia Warner (Kenmore, Wa.) in the fifth. Sophomore Leigh Wyman (South Freeport, Maine) pitched a pair of innings for Endicott, taking the loss to move to 1-4 on the year. 

Endicott got three more back in the top of the fifth, as DiBella singled to right to score Chrissy Gikas (Danvers, Mass.) before the Gulls picked up a pair of runs on wild pitches to cut the deficit to 7-5. However, Wellesley immediately countered with two runs in the bottom of the inning. 

Havrilla opened the frame with a walk before Bresee doubled to right center to bring Havrilla all the way around from first. Bresee later scored on a passed ball before Endicott got out of the inning when Jaclyn Tsang was thrown out trying to steal third following a two-out double. Ashtyn Coleman added the final Blue run in the bottom of the sixth, scoring on a wild pitch. 

Endicott made one last push in the top of the seventh inning, Gikas and DiBella both walked to open the frame for the Gulls. Warner induced a groundout from Sharpe and a pop-up from Kate Shields (Seekonk, Mass.) before first year Kate Sheldon (Burlington, Mass.) smacked a single through the left side of the infield to plate Gikas. However, with two-on and the tying run at the plate, Warner got Casie Beauchemin (Lincoln, R.I.) to pop up to third to end the game. 

Wellesley will return to New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) play when they host Wheaton for a doubleheader on Friday afternoon at 3:00 PM. Endicott will travel to non-conference Salem St. tomorrow at 3:30 PM.