Blue Softball Falls to Smith in Friday Doubleheader

WELLESLEY, Mass. – The Wellesley College softball team dropped a pair of New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) games to Smith on Friday afternoon. The Blue fall to 1-12 overall and 0-4 in the conference, while the Pioneers improve to 8-9 and 3-1 in the NEWMAC. 

Game 1 | Smith 3, Wellesley 0 | Final

Sophomore Maegan Osmond (Weston, Fla.) made the start for Smith and dealt five scoreless innings and struck out four batters. On the mound for the Blue was junior Marisa Sgambati (Scottsdale, Ariz.) who threw all seven innings and struck out seven.

Osmond and Sgambati each had control on the mound for the first three innings of the contest as neither team threatened offensively with just three combined hits. The Pioneers got on the board in the top of the fourth inning after first year Taylor Ang (San Diego, Calif.) brought home Piper Corey (Phoenix, Ariz.) with a sacrifice fly to left field. Both teams were held scoreless the following two innings as Sgambati struck out three batters.

The Blue saw its best scoring opportunity in the bottom half of the sixth inning. Seniors Holly Chin (Newton, Mass.) and Marisa Hensch (Carlsbad, Calif.) each recorded one out singles to put runners on first and second for the Blue. Lauren Young (Fresno, Calif.) followed with a fly out to deep left and Sgambati was robbed of a base hit after Meredith Moore (Caro, Mich.) made a diving play at second base to end the inning.

Smith would tack on two insurance runs in the top of the seventh with back-to-back solo home runs from Ang and Cece Alaniz (Bakersfield, Calif.). Trailing 3-1 in the bottom of the seventh, the Blue got the first two batters on base with singles. The two would be left stranded as Lauren Skolaris (Mooresville, N.C.) grounded into a fielder's choice and Ingrid Hsu (San Ramon, Calif.) and Chloe Theriault (Peoria, Ariz.) each flew out to end the game. Sophomore Abigail Fletcher (Bethany, Conn.) picked up the save for Smith.

Game 2 | Smith 2, Wellesley 1 | Final

Senior Eryn Lee (Saratoga, Calif.) went 2-for-4 with an RBI to lead Smith in game two of the doubleheader. The Blue got another quality start from Young who went the distance and allowed just one earned run and struck out seven.

Smith brought home its first run in the top of the second off a fielder's choice and throwing error by Hensch at third base. The Pioneers followed up in the third with another run and lead 2-0. The Blue couldn't find much at the plate until the sixth inning Chin singled to start off. Sgambati then reached on a throwing error by the Smith shortstop which allowed Chin to come around and score. However, Wellesley did not find a baserunner the rest of the way and fell 2-1. Sophomore Lucy Helms (Alameda, Calif.) pitched a complete game and allowed just one hit.

The Blue are right back in action Sunday afternoon for a doubleheader at Springfield starting at 1:00 PM. Smith will take on Babson on Saturday, April 9 at 12:00 and 2:00 PM.