Springfield, Mass. – April 5, 2013 – Jen Joseph earned a pair of victories to help power the Springfield College softball team to an important doubleheader sweep of WPI Friday afternoon in New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) play. The Pride won the opener, 8-0, in five innings before clipping the Engineers, 3-2.

Springfield is now 8-12, but 3-1 in league games, while WPI drops to 6-13, 2-5.

In the opener, Springfield wasted little time producing runs. Kelly Blake crushed a leadoff triple in the first and scored on a Christina Leader single up the middle. Leader would then swipe second and crossed the plate after Breann Joyce ripped a single into center.

The Pride tacked on three more runs in the second, producing four hits with two outs. Brielle Engelcrecht hammered a triple to drive in a run, while Jenna Webb added an RBI single and Joyce registered a run-scoring double.

Springfield closed out the game with three more runs in the fourth. With one out and the bases load, pinch hitter Taylor Page cracked a double, scoring both Webb and Joyce. Sam Rentz tacked on the third run coming home thanks to WPI’s third error of the contest.

Webb finished the first game going 3-for-3 with two RBI and two runs scored, while both Joyce and Leader tallied two hits. Ali LaRue tallied two of the Engineers three hits in the loss, and Christa Coscia (4-6) have up three earned runs off 11 hits while strike out four and walking four.

Jennifer Joseph tossed the first three innings, striking out four while surrendering two hits. Caisie Cadorette came on in relief for the final two frames, allowing just one hit.

It was WPI that scored first in the second contest, plating their only two runs of the game in the opening frame. Nicole McDonough led off the game with a double and after a fielder’s choice and sac bunt, scored from third on a Lauren DiFelice single to right. With the bases loaded and two outs, Jacquelyne DiTroia earned a walk to force in DeFelice.

Springfield finally answered with a run in the third after Leader drove in Chelsea Bender from second. The Pride tacked on another run in the fifth, as Ashley Marino led off with a triple and scored on a sac bunt by Bender.

Joseph entered the game in the top of the sixth and got three straight outs, including a pair of strikeouts, to set up the bottom half of the inning. Engelbrecht led off with a two-base hit, and two batters later, Rentz drilled a double to left field to drive in the game-winner. Joseph used two K’s and a groundout to grab her second win of the afternoon.

Clare Doolin was charged the loss, as she gave up three earned off five hits. Marino has the no decision, despite five innings of three-hit ball. Joseph’s two innings of work was the difference, as she fanned four and did not give up a hit.

Springfield will entertain Clark on Saturday afternoon in a double-dip starting at noon.