Blue Softball Tops Springfield, Top-Seeded Wheaton On Day One of NEWMAC Tournament

NORTON, Mass. — Wellesley College softball opened the 2015 New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) Championship tournament with a pair of victories, defeating fourth seeded Springfield College 14-2, in five innings, before earning an 11-2 victory over the tournament's top seed and host Wheaton College in game two.  

Wellesley now stands at 20-13 overall on the season and will return to Wheaton to play its next game on Saturday at 2:00 PM versus third-seeded WPI. WPI topped second-seeded MIT, 5-1, after defeating sixth-seeded Babson College, 5-4, earlier in the day.

Game One: Wellesley 14, Springfield 2 (5 inn.) 

After a scoreless first frame, Wellesley scored in four consecutive innings to earn a lopsided 14-2 victory, in five innings, over Springfield College. 

The Blue capitalized on three Springfield errors in the top of the second inning to jump out to an early lead. Seniors Abby Casey (Milford, Conn.) and Maria LaBouyer (Yuba City, Calif.), junior Jaclyn Tsang (Manalapan, N.J.) and sophomore Kendra Coleman (Scottsdale, Ariz.) each picked up RBIs, while a pair of runs scored on errors, as the Blue batted around to take a 6-0 advantage. 

Springfield got one run back in the bottom of the second when junior Melissa Nelson (Milford, Conn.) singled with two-on and two-out to drive home Alicia Pavadore (Taunton, Mass.). However, the run did little to slow Wellesley's momentum as the Blue responded with three more runs in the top of the third. 

The Blue loaded the bases to open the inning, as sophomore Anna Pisac (Snohomish, Wa.) singled to left before senior Mariah Philips doubled (Palo Alto, Calif.) and Casey walked. First year Amanda Manning (Durham, Calif.) then picked up a fielder's choice RBI before sophomore Ashtyn Coleman (Scottsdale, Ariz.) smacked a double down the left field line to drive in a pair of runs and extend the Wellesley advantage to 9-1.  

Pisac went on to add a solo home run in the top of the fourth inning and a two-RBI triple in the top of the fifth, as the Wellesley sophomore finished game one a perfect 3-for-3 while driving in a game-high three RBIs.

The only other Springfield run would come on a solo home run from junior Elizabeth Joseph (Stamford, Conn.) in the bottom of the fifth inning, as Wellesley starter Madeline Bianchi (Lakeville, Minn.) improved to 12-7 on the season, allowing six hits over five innings, while matching her season-high with nine strikeouts.

Game Two: Wellesley 11, Wheaton 2

Wellesley scored four runs in the opening two innings, never trailing en route to an 11-2 victory over top-seeded Wheaton. 

Ashtyn and Kendra Coleman got the Blue started in game one, as Ashtyn opened the contest with a double before Kendra delivered a two-out RBI base hit to left field. 

Wellesley went on to add three more runs in the top of the second inning. Pisac opened the inning with a single through the left side before making her way to second, on a sacrifice from Philips, and later scoring when Casey singled to centerfield. Manning followed, reaching on a fielder's choice, before Ashtyn Coleman and LaBouyer added RBI singles on either side of a sacrifice fly from Tsang to help the Blue extended their advantage to 4-0. 

Wellesley starter Julia Warner (Kenmore, Wa.) recorded a pair of perfect innings in the third and fourth, while Wheaton pitcher Noelle Christmas (Plymouth, Mass.) worked her way around a pair of base hits in the middle innings. Warner (8-6) earned the victory in the contest, scattering 12 hits over seven innings. Christmas pitched a team-high 2.1 innings after coming on in relief of starter Emily Berardi (Boston, Mass.). 

The Wellesley advantage continued to grow in the top of the fifth inning, with the Blue scoring two more runs thanks to the second home run of the day from sophomore Anna Pisac. Pisac was one of three Wellesley players to record two RBIs in game two, along with Tsang and LaBouyer. Ashtyn Coleman drove in a game-high three runs, going 4-for-5 in the leadoff spot. As a team, Wellesley's leadoff batter reached base safely in all seven innings. 

In the top of the sixth, Ashtyn and Kendra Coleman repeated their performance from the first inning. The duo helped the Blue tack on one more run when Ashtyn opened the inning with a base hit before Kendra picked up a two-out RBI, this time on a double to left center. 

Wheaton broke through for a pair of runs in the bottom of the sixth inning, stringing together four consecutive singles from Marissa Timoteo (Jupiter, Fla.), Erin Deneen (South Yarmouth, Mass.), Emma Hart (Lincoln, R.I.) and Madeline Hatch (Acton, Mass.) to make the score 8-2. Hatch picked up an RBI with her single, scoring Timoteo, while the second run came home as Deneen snuck down the third base line when Hart got caught in a rundown. 

The Blue put the game out of reach in the top of the seventh inning, adding four more runs on four hits and a Wheaton error. Ashtyn Coleman supplied the big hit in the inning, completing her day with a two-RBI triple to left field. Tsang then brought home Coleman for the final run of the game as the Blue took the 11-2 victory.