Blue Softball Hits Walk Off to Win Game Two Over WPI

WELLESLEY, Mass. – Wellesley College softball first year Emily Kulhanek (Newbury Park, Calif.) hit a walkoff single to give Wellesley game two of a NEWMAC doubleheader against WPI on Saturday.

Prior to the game Wellesley acknowledged four seniors for their contributions to the Blue. The seniors honored were Elli DeCleene (North Reading, Mass.), Parker Phillips (River Forest, Ill.), Emma Slibeck (New York, N.Y.), Julz Vargas (Los Angeles, Calif.).

The Engineers (8-9-1 Overall, 3-3 NEWMAC) held off a late comeback by the Blue (11-11 Overall, 4-4 NEWMAC) to secure a game one win. First year Naomi Boldebuck (Billerica, Mass.) threw 6.2 innings of one-run ball to pick up the win. Junior Shaina Lazarus (Thousand Oaks, Calif.) earned the save in relief.

Kulhanek's single helped the Blue take game two. First year Jillian Colgan (Las Vegas, Nev.) tossed six innings with four strikeouts for Wellesley. Junior Lauren Young (Fresno, Calif.) earned the win with two scoreless innings of relief.

Game 1 | WPI 2 , Wellesley 1 | Final

Down 2-0 in the top of the seventh Wellesley loaded the bases. First years Sarah Wicker (Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.) and Kulhanek singled before classmate Giana Jones (Fairfield, Calif.) drew a walk. 

Sophomore Chiara Lundin (Piedmont, Calif.) knocked a single up the middle that brought home a run. With two outs, Colgan cracked a deep shot to center. WPI fielder Sydney Russell (Arlington, Va.) made a leaping catch to give the Engineers the win.

In the fourth inning, WPI scored a run on a grounder from sophomore Destiny Lum (Kahaluʻu, Hawaii). The Engineers brought the lead to 2-0 in the fifth inning. Russell doubled to right field, scoring first year Virginia McKinney (Larchmont, N.Y.).

Wicker pitched all seven innings for the Blue. The first year fanned six while only allowing five runners to reach base. 

Game 2 | Wellesley 2, WPI 1 | Final (8 Innings)

Wellesley came back from down 1-0 and won on a walkoff single in the bottom of the eighth from Kulhanek. 

WPI jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first. Sophomore Emma Nagy (Monroe, Wash.) crushed a solo home run over the center field fence. 

Neither team scored until the bottom of the sixth. After Colgan and Jones reached base, Wicker reached on an error by the shortstop that scored Colgan. The game remained tied 1-1 after seven innings of play, forcing extras.

In the bottom of the eighth, Kulhanek ripped a shot through the left side that brought classmate Alena Mulhern (Kingston, Mass.) home to win the game for the Blue. 

Lazarus only allowed five hits over 7.1 innings for WPI.

The Blue will host Coast Guard at 12 & 2 PM tomorrow. The Engineers are home against Springfield at 1 & 3 PM tomorrow.