Wheaton Softball Splits Series With Babson

NORTON, Mass. - The Wheaton College softball team split its New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) series against the Babson Beavers on Sunday afternoon, earning a 9-1 win after five innings in the opening game, before slipping 4-2 in the second.

The Lyons move to 13-9 on the season and 7-3 in conference play. The Beavers are now 14-10 overall and 5-5 in the NEWMAC.

GAME ONE:
Wheaton wasted no time putting runs on the board, platting five in the opening frame, starting with a two-run homerun to dead center by Caroline Fairbanks.  Senior Emma Hart came in to score on the play after leading off with a single to the pitcher.

Senior Marissa Timoteo followed Fairbanks lead with a homerun of her own later in the inning. The
left fielder picked up Emily Bouthillette and Kelly Welch with the blast.

The Lyons kept things going in the bottom half of the second. Mary DeMoura collected an RBI with a single to left center that brought in Hart, making it a 6-0 contest. Fairbanks put Wheaton up by two more moments later with her second homerun in as many innings.

The homeruns kept coming in the third, but this time it was from the Beavers Samantha Smith. The sophomore earned Babson's second hit of the day with a long shot over the fence in left.

Wheaton responded in the bottom half of the inning, earning the run back with an RBI single to left by DeMoura.

Hart ended the contest a perfect 3-for-3, while Fairbanks ended the day 2-of-3 with four RBI.

Allison Cox collected the complete game win, allowing just one run on three hits, while striking out one.

Leslie Moore picked up the loss for Babson.

GAME TWO: 

Ali Reilly came out ready to go in game two for Babson, picking up her eighth win of the season. The sophomore pitcher sat the Lyons down in order in the first inning and then gave up a single hit in the second, before sitting down the next three batters.

The Babson offense then got going, platting a run in the top of the third courtesy of an RBI single to center by Ashley Tango.

DeMoura countered in the bottom half of the inning with an RBI single of her own, scoring Hart and knotting the game at 1-1.

Smith gave Babson the lead back in the fourth with a two-RBI single up the middle that scored Madison Dinaso and Maya Lacy.

A throwing error by the Beavers on a bunt by Timoteo allowed Wheaton to earn a run back in its half of the frame. Bouthillette, who was at second after doubling to right, moved to third on the bunt before coming around to score on the misthrow.

Annie Quine ended the scoring for either side in the top half of the sixth, knocking in Smith with a single to right.

UP NEXT: 
Wheaton is schedule to return to the field on Tuesday, April 12 for a double-header at Bridgewater State. The first game is set to begin at 3:30 p.m.