Springfield Takes Two From Wellesley Softball in NEWMAC Doubleheader

WELLESLEY, Mass. -- Springfield College took both games of a New England Women's & Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) doubleheader over Wellesley College softball on Wednesday at the Wellesley Fields Complex. The Pride topped the Blue, 8-7, in ten innings in game one and earned a 5-3 victory in game two.  

Springfield moves to 13-11 overall and 6-4 in NEWMAC play. The Blue are now 7-11-1 (3-7 NEWMAC) on the year. 

Game 1 | Springfield 8, Wellesley 7 | Final – 10 innings

Springfield junior Meghan Sastram (Oxford, Conn.) drove in the go-ahead run in the top of the tenth inning as the Pride outlasted the Blue, 8-7, in ten innings in game one.

Trailing 5-3, the Pride scored two runs in the top of the seventh inning to send the game into extras. With the tie-breaking runner on second, each team scored a run in the eighth and ninth inning before Sastram scored sophomore Hannah Salvietti (Cheshire, Conn.) with a base knock in the top of the tenth to put Springfield ahead, 8-7. Springfield first year Natalie Stoner (Wynantskill, Conn.) saved the game for the Pride in the bottom of the tenth inning, reeling in a running grab on a sinking liner to left with one away and a Blue runner on third. Sastram finished the game 2-for-5 with two RBI, while Salvietti had a game-high four hits and two RBI.

Wellesley first year Marisa Hensch (Carlsbad, Calif.) and sophomore Gen Brittingham (Aliso Viejo, Calif.) each tallied three hits and two RBI to lead the Blue. Brittingham hit her first home run of the season in the bottom of the fifth. The two-run shot, at the time, gave the Blue a 4-3 lead after Springfield had jumped ahead on a Yaixsa Vargas (Waterbury, Conn.) RBI double in the top of the inning.

Junior Marisa Valenti (Trumbull, Conn.) earned the win for Springfield, improving to 3-4 overall after giving up no earned runs over 5.0 innings. Wellesley first year Haley McMorrow (Carlisle, Mass.) was tagged with the loss (1-1) despite giving-up just one hit in two innings of relief.

Game 2 | Springfield 5, Wellesley 3 | Final 

A four-run third inning for the Pride made all the difference in game two, as Springfield completed the sweep with a 5-3 victory over the Blue.

Wellesley jumped out to a 2-0 lead in game two, scoring a pair of runs in the bottom of the first inning on a Brittingham sac-fly and an RBI double off the bat of junior Kalei Oliver (Vista, Calif.). Oliver recorded two hits and the first inning RBI to lead the Blue, who also got two hits from Hensch and junior Kendall Smith (Turlock, Calif.) during the nightcap.

Springfield got one run back when Kayla Stvan (Parlin, N.J.) hit a solo shot in the top of the second. Trailing 2-1, Springfield rallied all the way back in the third, scoring four runs on five hits to take a 5-2 lead. Sastram singled to start the inning before stealing second and third and coming home on an Alexyss Conley (Bloomingburg, N.Y.) single to left to tie the game. The Pride stole five bases in the inning, while Vargas drove in the go-ahead run and with a single through the left side and senior Shelby Allen (Oakland, N.J.) and Salvietti each lifted sacrifices into the outfield to make the score 5-3.   

The Blue got one back in the home half of the frame, when Brown lifted a sacrifice to left to score Hensch, but would get no closer. McMorrow dropped to 1-2 with the decision, giving up all five runs in 2.1 innings. First year Hayley Moniz (Westfield, Mass.) pitched 4.2 innings of scoreless relief, giving-up five hits. First year Gillian Kane (New Canaan, Conn.) earned the win, going all 7.0 innings, striking out two, while giving up six hits and three earned to improve to 5-3 on the year.

The Blue and Pride continue the NEWMAC season on Friday, April 12 at 3:00 PM. Wellesley will host MIT and Springfield will travel to Clark.