WELLESLEY, Mass. – Wellesley College softball dropped both ends of a NEWMAC twin-billing against MIT on Saturday. The Engineers won game one 10-0 in six innings and game two 9-4.
Prior to the game Wellesley acknowledged three seniors for their contributions to the Blue. The seniors honored were Charis Chung (San Gabriel, Calif.), Peytin Penny (Louisville, Ky.) and Lauren Young (Fresno, Calif.)
Game 1 | MIT 10, Wellesley 0 | Final - 6 innings
After three scoreless innings, MIT (18-8 Overall, 9-3 NEWMAC) scored seven times on six hits and two errors in the top of the fourth. First-year Layla Thiessen (Carlsbad, Calif.) knocked in a pair with a single up the middle. Later in the frame, sophomore Arianna Kumar (San Diego, Calif.) brought in a pair with a triple to right field.
In the top of the sixth, the Engineers plated three runs for a 10-0 lead. Senior Kennedy Adkison (San Jose, Calif.) singled in a run and then scored when the next batter, senior Mikayla Cable (Valrico, Fla), hit a two-run homer over the right center fence.
Senior Katie Katsuyama (Manhattan Beach, Calif.) closed the door in the bottom of the sixth to secure the victory for MIT. Starting pitcher junior Caroline Langmeyer (Upper Arlington, Ohio) went five shutout innings with three hits and four strikeouts.
Chung led the Blue (12-13-1 Overall, 7-7 NEWMAC) offense with two hits in three plate appearances.
Game 2 | MIT 9, Wellesley 4 | Final
The Engineers got on the board with a pair in the first. The game's first run was scored by first-year Delaney Benevides (Plainville, Mass.) who came in on a double steal. Junior Ava Ladd (Austin, Texas) later scored on an RBI double to left by senior Mackenzie Bivin (San Diego, Calif.).
The visitors increased their lead to 6-0 in the third with four runs on four hits. Ladd crossed the plate with MIT's fourth run on an Adkison single. Junior Oliva Scarpaci (Staten Island, N.Y.) broke the game open with a 3-run homer over the left field wall.
MIT tacked on a run in the sixth when Cable scored on a fielder's choice for the 7-0 advantage.
The Engineers added another two runs in the seventh on RBI singles by Ladd and Cable to make the margin 9-0.
Wellesley broke through in the bottom of the seventh with four runs, but the rally came up short as MIT hung on for the 9-4 victory. Sophomore Diana Borrison (San Jose, Calif.) hit a bases clearing double to the fence to give the Blue three runs. Junior Andrea Delgado (Miami, Fla.), who pinch ran for Borrison, then scored on a single by senior Charis Chung (San Gabriel, Calif.).
Katsuyama pitched the first two innings and allowed one hit and struck out two. First-year Sarah Blackett (St. Petersburg, Fla.) earned the win after five relief innings.
Ladd led all hitters with a 4-for-5 effort at the plate.
Each team will play at home in non-conference competition on Wednesday, April 23. The Blue host Curry College at 3 & 5 PM. MIT takes on Brandeis University at home at 4:00 PM.
