NEWPORT, R.I. – Wellesley College softball dropped a pair NEWMAC games to Salve Regina University on Friday at Toppa Field.

Junior Alex Kelly (East Meadow, N.Y.) threw a three-hit shutout with six strikeouts to give the Seahawks (5-11 Overall, 2-2 NEWMAC) a 6-0 win in game one.

First year Giana Jones (Fairfield, Calif.) nearly helped the Blue (9-7 Overall, 2-2 NEWMAC) comeback in game two with a key RBI double.

Game 1 | Salve Regina 6, Wellesley 0 | Final

Salve Regina backed Kelly with eight hits and six runs to pick up a game one win.

The Seahawks broke the 0-0 stalemate in the bottom of the third inning. Junior Katie Ramos (Burnt Hills, N.Y.) placed a single through the left side that scored classmate Sam Franceschi (East Haven, Conn.). 

Salve Regina doubled its lead in the fourth when junior Morganti Bello (Corte Madera, Calif.) hit a two-bagger that brought in Franceschi.

The Seahawks opened the floodgates with four runs in the bottom of the sixth. After loading the bases, senior Maddie Capetta (Raritan, N.J.) smacked a three-run double to left center. Capetta scored on a single up the middle from junior Emily Lane (Tinton Falls, N.J.).

Kelly finished off a shutout win with a clean top of the seventh. Junior Lauren Young (Fresno, Calif.) had a strikeout over 3.2 innings of work for Wellesley. First year Jillian Colgan (Las Vegas, Nev.) fanned two in relief.

Game 2 | Salve Regina 4, Wellesley 3 | Final

Early offense and 11 total hits helped Salve Regina hold off a late rally by Wellesley. The Blue put a runner in one third base down one run in the top of the seventh. However, Seahawks reliever Skylar Wicklund (Riverhead, N.Y.) got out of the inning to finish off the two-game sweep.

Salve Regina jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second. First year Emily Cronin (Coventry, R.I.) came home on a grounder to the shortstop.

The Seahawks added on three runs in the bottom of the fourth. Franceschi hit an RBI single up the middle. Later, Ramos dropped a single into center field that scored a pair of runs.

Wellesley got on the board with two runs in the top of the fifth. First year Alena Mulhern (Kingston, Mass.) ripped a triple through the left side that scored Jones. Mulhern came across the plate on a single through the right side from senior Elli DeCleene (North Reading, Mass.).

The Blue made it a 4-3 game in the top of the sixth. Jones cracked a double to left center that plated senior Parker Phillips (River Forest, Ill.).

Starter Caroline Peterson (Halifax, Mass.) pitched 5.1 innings of three-run ball for Salve Regina. Wellesley first year Sarah Wicker (Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.) produced six strikeouts in six innings. The Blue put up eight hits as a team.

Next up, the Blue travel to Springfield for a 12 & 2 PM NEWMAC doubleheader tomorrow. The Seahawks play at Smith at the same time.