WPI Powers to Sweep of Blue Softball

WORCESTER, Mass. -- Wellesley College softball dropped a pair of New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) games to host WPI on Saturday afternoon at the Engineer's Rooftop Field. The Blue now sit at 9-9 overall and 2-5 in conference action, while WPI improves to 19-5 and 9-3 in NEWMAC play.

Game One: WPI 6, Wellesley 1

WPI scored three runs in the bottom of the first inning before tacking on a run in both the second and third innings to jump out to a 5-1 advantage in game one. 

With one out in the first, freshman Ama Biney hit the first of two WPI home runs in the contest, delivering a solo shot over the right field fence. The Engineers then loaded the bases on a walk to Kristen Gallagher, a single from Katie Bumila and a hit by pitch before Lindsay Gurska walked to bring home Julia Ring after the sophomore had pinch run for Gallagher. A single from Kelsey Saucier drove in the final run of the first before Wellesley retired the side on a fielders choice. 

Gallagher went on to pick up an RBI in the bottom of the second, collecting a base hit to left center to score Nina Murphy-Cook. Saucier supplied the offense in the third, hitting a home run to right. 

The Blue's lone run of the contest came thanks to a passed ball when Ashtyn Coleman scored on a throwing error. 

WPI closed out the game one victory with another run in the bottom of the sixth, as RiAnna May scored on an RBI single from Gurska after reaching with a leadoff walk. 

Game Two: WPI 16, Wellesley 6 (6 inn.)

Biney knocked her second home run of the day in the sixth inning of game two, ending the contest with a one-out grand slam over the left centerfield fence. Biney's deep fly capped a six-run bottom of the sixth inning for the Engineers. 

WPI collected 17 hits in game two, with Biney, Murphy-Cook, May and Gurska all registered three hits in the nightcap. 

Wellesley opened game two with a run in the top of the first inning. Bresee doubled to right center, scoring later in the inning on a passed ball. The Blue held the Engineers in the bottom half the inning but were unable to add to their lead in the top of the second. 

WPI countered with seven unanswered runs, scoring a pair in the the bottom of the second on a two-run home run from Guska. The hosts then added five runs on five hits and an error in the bottom of the third.

Wellesley responded with a home run of their own in the top of the fourth inning, when sophomore Anna Pisac cut the deficit to 7-2. However, just as soon as the Blue got a run back, WPI responded with three more in the bottom of the inning to swell their lead to 10-2. 

With the Blue needing a run to extend the game in the top of fifth inning, senior Emilyrose Havrilla singled to right to score Bresee after the Wellesley junior had picked up her second hit of the game earlier in the inning. Bresee finished as the only Wellesley player with three hits in game two, also scoring three runs and drawing a walk from the leadoff position. 

The Blue continued to chip away in the top of the sixth inning scoring three runs on three hits, as Jaclyn Tsang, Bresee and senior Maria LaBouyer all picked up RBI base hits. 

With the Blue now trailing by only four runs, WPI countered once again, this time to end the game. With two on and one out, Gurska and Saucier picked up back-to-back RBI singles before Biney's grand slam helped the Engineers walk-off with the 16-6 victory.

Wellesley will return to Worcester on Tuesday to take on Clark in a NEWMAC doubleheader at 3:00 PM. WPI will travel to non-conference Westfield State on Wednesday at 3:30 PM.