Blue Softball Splits With Emerson To Open NEWMAC Campaign

BOSTON, Mass. – Wellesley College softball roared to a 9-5 victory in game one before host Emerson College put-up six runs in the sixth inning to erase a 4-1 deficit and win game two, 7-4, in the first day of New England Women's & Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) play for both teams on Friday at Rotch Field. Wellesley is now 4-7 overall (1-1 NEWMAC), while Emerson moves to 12-4 (2-2 NEWMAC).

Wellesley 9, Emerson 5 

Senior Amanda Manning (Chico, Calif.) was 3-for-5 with two doubles and four RBIs to lead the Blue to a 9-5 victory in game one.

First year Gen Brittingham (Aliso Viejo, Calif.) also added three hits and a pair of doubles, while starter Julia Warner (Kenmore, Wash.) recorded three hits and an RBI and struck out three in seven innings to earn her third win of the season.

Lindsey Lowe (Porter Ranch, Calif.) was 3-for-4 with a pair of doubles and two runs scored for Emerson, while first year Maddie Tomich (Lithia, Fla.) hit her second home run of the season in the bottom of the fourth inning. In the circle, Neely Eddleston (West Wareham, Mass.) pitched 5.1 innings, giving-up four earned runs on eight hits. Casey Tsamis (Colchester, Conn.) took the loss, as she was charged with five earned over 1.2 innings in relief. 

Trailing 5-3 in the top of the sixth inning, Wellesley took control of the game, scoring four runs on six hits to take a 7-5 lead. Sophomore Jessica Budz (Traverse City, Mich.) started the rally with her second single of the day, setting off a chain of four straight Wellesley hits that included a double from classmate Autumn Brown (Marshfield, Mass.), an RBI single from Warner and an RBI double from Manning. 

The Blue added two more runs later in the inning, with Warner scoring on a sacrifice fly from Kendall Smith (Turlock, Calif.) and Manning coming around to score on an RBI double to right from Brittingham. Wellesley would also add two in the seventh, scoring both runs with two outs as Manning dropped down her second double of the day to score Warner and Kim singled to drive in Manning. 

Emerson 7, Wellesley 4

Jacqueline DeFusco (East Greenwich, R.I.) and Jillian Gearin (Hermosa Beach, Calif.) both homered as part of a six-run sixth inning to help Emerson earn the split with a 7-4 victory in game two.

DeFusco finished the game 2-for-4 with two runs scored and two RBIs. Lowe added three more hits for the Lions, who got 3.2 innings of one-run relief from Eddleston after starter Erin Nolan (Hunterdon, N.J.) was chased from the game after surrendering three runs over the first 3.1 innings. 

Brittingham hit her first career home run in the top of the fourth, Manning recorded her second triple in her last four games and Smith unleashed her fifth double of the year, but the Blue managed just four hits in game two. Senior Madeline Bianchi (Lakeville, Minn.) struck out six, but she was charged with six of the seven Emerson runs in 5.1 innings and is now 0-2 on the season. 

Emerson junior Alena Jones (Woodinville, Wash.) opened the scoring with an RBI single in the bottom of the first inning. Emerson would hold the lead until the fourth, when Brittingham put the ball over the left centerfield fence after Smith opened the inning with a walk. The Blue would go on to load the bases but could only push one more run across when sophomore Kalei Oliver (Vista, Calif.) worked a walk to make the score 3-1 later in the inning. 

Manning tripled with two-out and Warner at first in the top of the sixth to give the Blue a 4-1 lead. However, the Wellesley advantage would disappear in the bottom half as Gearin and DeFusco both hit two run homers and the Lions scored two runs on an error to take the 7-4 victory. 

Wellesley will host Babson in a doubleheader tomorrow, Saturday, March 31, beginning at 12:00 PM. Emerson is scheduled to host Springfield in a doubleheader tomorrow at 2:30 PM.