Wellesley Athletics News Releases

Wellesley Earns Split with Springfield

WELLESLEY, Mass. -- In two of the most exciting games of the season to date, Wellesley split a double-header with Springfield College this afternoon, taking the first game 2-1 in the bottom of the seventh, while dropping the second game in the eighth. Wellesley now stands at 11-9 on the season, 3-5 in NEWMAC competition. Springfield is now 10-10 overall, 7-3 in conference.

The opening game of the afternoon quickly established itself as a pitcher's duel between Wellesley's Jenna Harvey (London, Ontario) and Springfield's Stephanie Blackman (Stamford, Conn.). Blackman gave up only four hits on the day, while allowing only just two runs. Harvey continued to frustrate batters, striking out 17 in the game, while giving up only three hits.

The Pride scored their first and only run in the third, when Denise Fumicello (Brockton, Mass.) led off with a single, and then scored from first on Michelle Wlosek's (Nutley, N.J.) long double to right. A 1-0 lead looked to be sufficient for the Pride, as Blackman held the Blue scoreless until the bottom of the seventh, when Kara Wong (Milford, Mass.) reached second on an outfield error, then scored on Megan Wood's (Jacksonville, Fla.) grounder to short, which led to a two-base throwing error. With the score now tied at 1-1 and Wood on second, Harvey hammered a game-winning double to the fence in leftcenter, sealing the 2-1 victory.

Springfield was led in the first game by Fumicello with two hits, while Wlosek had a double and one RBI. Blackman fanned two and gave up no earned runs in the loss. Wood had two hits for the Blue, while Harvey and Amanda Tai (Melrose, Mass.) chipped in one a piece. Harvey fanned 17, walked four, and gave up one earned run in the win.

Game two proved to be as exciting as game one. In the bottom of the first, with one out, Alex Coari (Geneva, Ill.) spanked a single to left field. Wong followed with a long drive over the centerfield fence, for a two-run homerun, the first homerun ever hit at the Wellesley College Softball Field. The score remained unchanged through the next four innings as both pitchers, Wellesley's Kristie Gola (Bordentown, N.J.) and Springfield's Samantha Rhodes (Mendon, Mass.), settled into a rhythm that held their opponents scoreless.

In the top of the sixth, Springfield used its bench wisely and effectively, tacking together four hits, including a double from Aimee Cassella (Southington, Conn.) and singles from Loni Rodriguez (Westfield, Mass.), Lauren D'Arrigo (Lexington, Mass.), and Fumicello, to tie the score at two. Wellesley struck back in the bottom of the sixth, when Wood led off the inning by getting hit by a pitch. She advanced to second on Harvey's single to center, then moved to third on a sacrifice off the bat of Beej Grundlock (Blackwood, N.J.) and scored on a throwing error, giving the Blue a 3-2 lead. With Harvey into the game to relieve Gola, Springfield faced an uphill battle in the top half of the seventh, but Danielle Spiro (South Windsor, Conn.) pounded a homer over the leftcenter field fence to tie the game at 3-3 and force the contest into extra innings.

In the top of the eigth, Fumicello was placed on second to start the inning, advancing to third on a sacrifice off the bat Angela Atkins (East Haddam, Conn.). Spiro came through in the clutch again, this time driving a single to right to score Fumicello and take a 4-3 lead. Wellesley had no answer in the bottom of the inning, and Springfield held on for the win.

Fumicello led the Pride in game two, with three hits and the game winning run. Rodriguez and Spiro added two hits each, with Spiro tallying both the game-tying and game-winning RBIs. Rhodes earned the win for Springfield, scattering six hits and striking out eight. Wellesley had six players with one hit each, Coari, Wong, Wood, Harvey, Alex Warren (Delta, B.C.) and Alex Houghtalin (Haperwoods, Mich.). Gola pitched five and third for the Blue, giving up seven hits and two runs while striking out three. Harvey, in relief, gave up three hits while fanning three in the loss.

Springfield returns to action on Tuesday, April 10, at 3:30 p.m., when they host MCLA. Wellesley takes the field on Wednesday, April 11, as they host a double-header against Curry College starting at 3:30.