Worcester, Mass. - April 1, 2015 - Junior Jenna Webb (Harrison, N.Y.) and freshman Brianna Weltlich (Southampton, Mass.) launched back-to-back home runs in game one as the Springfield College softball program split a NEWMAC softball doubleheader with WPI on Wednesday evening at Rooftop Field. The Pride took game one 9-1 in six innings, while WPI survived a late scare with a 5-4 victory in game two.
The Pride move to 5-11 overall, and 3-1 in New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) play and will look to continue its momentum on Thursday night at Smith College. Game times are slated at 3:30pm and 5:30pm. With the loss, the Engineers fall to 11-5 on the year and 1-3 in conference play.
Springfield 9, WPI 1 (6 innings)
Game one saw Webb connect on the first pitch of the bottom of the second and Weltlich quickly followed to give the Pride the 2-0 lead. Elizabeth Joseph (Stamford, Conn.) made it a 3-0 ballgame with a homer to left center in the fourth.
Five of WPI's eight runners left on base came in the third and fourth innings as the Crimson and Gray looked for some two-out heroics. The Engineers finally succeeded in the fifth when Murphy-Cook scored on a two-out infield miscue.
Springfield responded in the bottom half of the frame with an RBI single up the middle by Kirsten Drobiak (Jewett City, Conn.). The Pride later erupted for five in the sixth to end the game early. Jordyn Moquin (Southington, Conn.) highlighted the spurt with a 2-RBI double as Drobiak also plated one with a double to left center. Joseph pushed the final runner across with a hit to right center.
Drobiak had a two-hit outing, along with teammates Webb and Joseph. Moquin chipped in with a perfect 1-for-1 performance as she produced two RBI for the Pride.
Talia Loda (East Haven, Conn.) collected her third win of the season as she pitched five innings, allowing seven hits, and only one run on the evening. Moquin tallied the save as she silence WPI in the sixth.
WPI 5, Springfield 4
The Engineers scored in four of the first five innings of the nightcap to take a 5-0 lead. Kristin Gallagher (Coventry, R.I.) helped put a pair of runs up in the first inning as Nina Murphy-Cook (Roseville, Calif.) scored on the sacrifice bunt and Ama Biney (Worcester, Mass.) reached home courtesy of a miscue on the play.
May used an RBI single in the third and later notched a run-producing double in the fifth. In between Mays's contributions, Natalie Fabrizio (Hampstead, N.H.) scampered home on a miscue in the fourth.
Springfield mounted a four-run rally in the bottom of the seventh and had two left on base when the game ended. Alicia Pavadore (Taunton, Mass.) drove in the first run with a single through the left side. Melissa Nelson (Milford, Conn.) later notched a two-run double to right and Camdyn Morgillo's (West Haven, Conn.) subsequent ground out allowed Pavadore to score. The rally ended on a fly ball to center field.
Webb notched two of Springfield's seven hits while Nelson added a pair of RBI. Morgillo, Moquin and Nicole Cring (Cooperstown, N.Y.) all spent at least a pair of innings in the circle for the Pride. Morgillo took the loss, moving 1-6 on the year.
