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| Recap, photo courtesy of WPI |
WORCESTER – Freshman Brittany Bolster (North Kingstown, RI) was one of three Engineers to bat 2-for-3 in game one and junior Renee LeClaire (Merrimack, NH) went 3-for-3 with a double in game two as WPI topped Wheaton, 6-3 and 9-4, Saturday in a NEWMAC Softball doubleheader on Rooftop Field.
The Engineers are now 15-5 on the season, 5-1 against NEWMAC teams and tied with MIT atop the leaderboard. Wheaton dips to 4-12 and 2-4.
Senior Ama Biney (Worcester, MA) led off the bottom of the first with a home run. Wheaton pulled even in the second courtesy of a wild pitch. The Lyons looked to plate another but the runner was caught in a rundown for the second out. WPI freshman Skylar O'Connell (North Attleboro, MA) then sent the ball over the shortstop into left field to drive in a run in the bottom of the second.
With two outs in the third, freshman Marissa Gonzales (Oakley, CA) singled in a run and came home on a stand up triple by LeClaire. Senior RiAnna May (Westminster, CO) followed with an infield RBI knock for the 5-1 advantage through three.
Each side dented the scoreboard in the fourth as Wheaton junior Emily Schlapak (Dover, NH)
homered to center and the Engineers benefitted from a miscue. The inning came to a close in rather historic fashion as Biney was caught stealing for the first time in her collegiate career. The local product had been successful on the previous 98 attempts. Schlapak cut the deficit to three with an RBI hit up the middle in the sixth.
Biney (HR, stolen base), LeClaire (triple, stolen base), May (double, stolen base) and Bolster each had a pair of hits. Gonzales also swiped a bag. Senior Kelsey Saucier (Worcester, MA) improved to 6-1 on the season, and 3-0 on the week, in a five-inning effort while freshman Nicole Kuberka (Los Angeles, CA) finished the game for WPI.
Schlapak (double, HR, 2 RBI) recorded three of Wheaton's five hits. Sophomore Jade Assad (Lambertville, NJ) doubled and scored twice while sharing pitching duties with senior starter Allison Cox (Torrance, CA).
LeClaire laced a two-out RBI double to left to begin the scoring in the second game. Junior Shelbi Wilson (Peabody, MA) and Assad then used consecutive doubles to even the contest in the top of the second. The Engineers regained the lead when sophomore Cassie Graca (Somerset, MA) scored on a miscue.
Wheaton took the 4-2 lead in the fourth behind a WPI wild pitch and two bases-loaded walks. A wild pitch in the bottom of the fourth allowed freshman Erika Wentz (Nashua, NH), who was running for senior Julia Veitch (Carlisle, MA), to get the Engineers within one. Sophomore Leila Camplese (Tewksbury, MA) knotted the game at 4-4 with an RBI single in the fifth.
The Engineers went ahead for good when Gonzales' hit dropped in center field and a miscue helped two runners score in the sixth. Gonzales eventually crossed the dish courtesy of a wild pitch and May followed with a two-run shot to center.
Gonzales and Assad recorded a pair of hits for their respective clubs. LeClaire and Veitch doubled to go along with May's round-tripper. Senior Nina Murphy-Cook (Roseville, CA) led the way with a pair of stolen bases. Biney, Gonzales, LeClaire and Graca were also successful on the base paths.
Freshman Kaitlyn Hess (Milford, NH) surrendered one earned run and struck out three in the start. Kuberka yielded one hit and struck out a pair in the relief win. Wilson absorbed the decision and Assad faced the final two Engineer batters of the day.
Seniors Katie Chagami (Waipahu, HI), who represented the go-ahead run in the nightcap, and Natalie Fabrizio (Hampstead, NH) also took the field for WPI.
The Engineers host Westfield State Wednesday at 3:30pm while the Lyons entertain Rhode Island College Tuesday at 3pm.
Graca and Gonzales Help Guide Softball in NEWMAC Sweep of Springfield
WORCESTER – Sophomore Cassie Graca's (Somerset, MA) early sacrifice fly in game one and freshman Marissa Gonzales' (Oakley, CA) RBI single in the third of game two proved to be the difference as WPI took two from Springfield, 4-1 and 7-6, in a NEWMAC Softball doubleheader Friday night on Rooftop Field.
The Engineers improve to 13-5 overall and 3-1 in conference play while the Pride slip to 12-4 following their first two NEWMAC games of the season.
Senior Ama Biney (Worcester, MA) reached third on a bunt by Gonzales and scored on a throw as part of the same play. Graca later lifted a sacrifice fly to left for the 2-0 lead after one inning. Biney scored again, this time with a solo blast to center in the home half of the second.
Springfield senior Kirsten Drobiak (Griswold, CT) put the Pride on the board with a sacrifice fly in the top of the third. Senior RiAnna May (Westminster, CO) then countered with a sacrifice fly to make it 4-1 heading into the fourth. WPI stranded three runners in the fourth, as did Springfield in the fifth.
WPI senior Kelsey Saucier (Worcester, MA) allowed one run on six hits and three walks, and struck out three in the complete-game victory. Senior Talia Loda (East Haven, CT) yielded three earned on eight hits and two walks with three strikeouts for Springfield.
Biney was 3-for-4 with a home run, a stolen base, an RBI and a two runs scored. Junior Renee LeClaire (Merrimack, NH) doubled while Gonzales and senior Nina Murphy-Cook (Roseville, CA) each stole a base. Senior Rachel Ball (Coventry, RI) went 2-for-3 for the guests.
Drobiak used a two-out home run to left to put the Pride on the board first in the nightcap. LeClaire evened the contest with an RBI single through the right side of the infield before an out was recorded in the bottom of the first. May followed with a run-producing hit up the middle. Graca added another through the left side. Freshman Skylar O'Connell (North Attleboro, MA) later chased Biney home with an infield ground out for the 4-1 lead.
Loda roped a hit to left to plate the Springfield run of the game in the top of the second. WPI pushed three across in the bottom of the third as Graca and O'Connell clubbed RBI doubles and Gonzales plated another with a hit to shallow left field. The Engineers continued to enjoy the 7-2 advantage after 4 1/2.
Springfield made it 7-5 in the sixth thanks to a two-run homer by junior Shelby Allen (Oakland, NJ) and a wild pitch that allowed sophomore Alexyss Conley (Plymouth, MA) to score. Conley later cut the deficit to one in the seventh with a hit down the third base line. The bases were then loaded but a liner to right ended the game.
May (double, triple) and Graca (double) each batted 3-for-4 and combined for three RBI and three runs scored. Gonzales and senior Katie Chagami (Waipahu, HI) collected a pair of hits and O'Connell (double) drove in a pair. Freshman Kaitlyn Hess (Milford, NH) held on for the win in her second start of the season while classmate Nicole Kuberka (Los Angeles, CA) earned the save. Murphy-Cook added two stolen bases to her collection and Chagami chipped in with one.
Junior Shelby Allen (Oakland, NJ) was 2-for-3 with a home run, two RBI and a run scored at the plate and went the distance in the circle for Springfield. Drobiak (double, HR), Conley and sophomore Meghan Sastram (Oxford, CT) also recorded a pair of hits in the game.
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