Wellesley Softball Sweeps Senior Day Doubleheader Over Smith

WELLESLEY, Mass -- Wellesley College softball swept a New England Women's & Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) doubleheader by final scores of 5-2 and 10-1 on Saturday afternoon at Wellesley College, as the Blue honored senior Sydney Hopper (Newcastle, Wash.) for her contributions to the program prior to competition.

With the sweep, Wellesley improves to 7-9-1 overall and 3-4 in NEWMAC play, while Smith drops to 1-9 in league play and 6-16 on the season.

Game 1 | Wellesley 5, Smith 2 | Final

The Blue captured a 5-2 win in the opener as Sydney Hopper (4-5) earned the win with a complete game effort, scattering seven hits across seven innings, while only allowing one earned and striking out one.

The Wellesley offense wasted no time as they put up runs in the first four innings and it was enough to hold off the Pioneers. First year Marisa Hensch (Carlsbad, Calif.) got the party started in the bottom first when she smashed a double to centerfield that allowed junior Kendall Smith (Turlock, Calif.) to cross home plate. The Blue were able to put up two runs when junior Kalei Oliver (Vista, Calif.) doubled in sophomore Gen Brittingham (Ailso Viejo, Calif.). First year Hayley Moniz (Wakefield, Mass.) then plated Oliver on a sacrifice fly to seal the game.

For Smith, senior Jessica Flohr (Foster City, Calif.) got the loss (4-4) in the circle, allowing four earned runs across five innings of work. Fellow senior Alyssa Pioggia (East Longmeadow, Mass.) picked up the lone Pioneer RBI of the game when she singled in senior Tyler Feeney (Merrimac, Mass.) in the fourth inning.

Game 2 | Wellesley 10, Smith 1 | Final - 5 innings

Wellesley stayed the course offensively in the second game of Saturday afternoon's doubleheader, as they defeated Smith 10-1 in five innings. First year Hayley McMorrow (Carlisle, Mass.) picked up the first win of her career in the circle, going all five innings, and allowing one run on five hits, while striking out a pair.

The Blue opened up the scoring in identical fashion as they did in Game One, when Hensch hammered a double into center field that brought around Smith, but this time the party did not end as Brittingham kept it going. The sophomore smashed a double to the warning track that allowed Hensch to score. With the Blue leading 5-0, junior Autumn Brown (Marshfield, Mass.) mashed her first home run of the season in the third inning with Oliver on base to extend the Blue lead. The Blue added two more before the end of the inning to take a 10-0 lead into the fourth. 

The Pioneers were able to get on the board in the top half of the fourth when first year Eryn Lee (Saratoga, Calif.) crossed the plate on a fielder's choice. Senior Jessica Flohr picked up the loss (4-5) allowing four earned runs in two innings of work. First year Emma Gardecki (Acton, Mass.) was solid in relief, pitching two scoreless innings and striking out two batters.

Wellesley will host Emerson on April 9 at 4:30 PM for a NEWMAC clash, while Smith host crosstown foe Amherst College for a non-conference doubleheader on April 8, first pitch is scheduled for 3:30 PM.