Worcester, MA --- After a four plus hour rain delay, a game-winning double from WPI's Kristin Gallagher (Coventry, RI) capped a five-run seventh-inning rally to lead third-seeded WPI over fifth-seeded Babson College, 7-6, on the second day of the 2014 New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) softball tournament. The game was being hosted at Wellesley College.

The win advances WPI to play tomorrow at a time to be announced against the winner of the Springfield and Smith match-up. Babson sees its 2014 campaign come to an end with a 17-20 overall record.

Trailing 6-2 in the bottom of the seventh, WPI rallied for five runs to bounce Babson from the tournament. The Engineers led off the inning with a triple from Lauren DiFelice (Acushnet, MA) and Lindsay Gurska (Revere, MA) followed with a two-run shot to dead center to make it 6-4. After two straight batters were hit by a pitch, Babson forced a line-out for the first out of the inning. Nicole McDonough (Abington, MA) then belted a slow change-up to left field that found its way to the fence, plating both runners and tying the game at 6-6. A ground-out then put McDonough on third with two-outs, before Gallagher laced the game-winner to right center giving the Engineers their fourth walk-off win in April. 

McDonough finished the game 3-for-4 with three RBI, while DeFelice picked up a pair of hits. Gurska drove in two runs, while Bumila and Gallagher each added RBI in the win. Clare Doolin (Newton, MA) got the start for WPI, throwing three innings, allowing two earned runs on five hits before giving way to Caroline Medino (Pompton Lakes, NJ) who threw four innings to earn her 12th win of the season. The rookie threw four innings, allowing three runs on four hits while striking out six.

Babson's Meaghan Merullo (Winchester, NH) led the Beaver offense going 3-for-4 with two runs, a double and an RBI. Kathleen Conway (Simsbury, CT) was 2-for-3 with a double and a pair of RBI, while Caitie Benoit (Williamstown, MA), Emily Morris (Wolcott, CT) and Christa Shorette (Southington, CT) all added RBI. Conway suffered the loss for Babson, throwing six and two-thirds of an inning, allowing six earned runs on nine hits, while striking out one. 

Babson struck for a run in the bottom of the first, as a Conway double came around to score on a single from Morris. WPI limited the damage in the inning, however, as McDonough gunned down Conway at the plate for the third out of the inning.

The Beavers stretched the lead to 3-0 on solo runs in each of the second and third innings, both coming off of sacrifice flies. In the second, a lead-off walk to Katie Guido (Middleton, MA) came around to score on a sacrifice from Shorette. In the third, Merullo led off the inning with a single before a double from Benoit sent her to third. A sacrifice fly from Conway followed, stretching the lead to 3-0. 

WPI got a run back in the bottom of the third with a single from Amanda Pierce (Ware, MA) coming around to score on a single from McDonough. 

Babson answered with two in the fifth and one in the sixth. In the fifth, Babson scored on another sacrifice fly, as Benoit drove in Dinaso, who led off the inning with a walk. An RBI single from Conway followed with Merullo scoring on the play. In the sixth, A Shorette single was driven home on a double from Merullo to right, making it 6-1 Babson.

WPI cut the lead to 6-2 in the bottom of the sixth with a solo home run from Katie Bumila, her second of the season, before the Engineers rallied for a five-spot in the bottom of the seventh.

Release Courtesy Wellesley Sports Information

Photo Courtesy Alex Berman Wellesley '16 

Admission Prices for Sunday's game at Wellesley:
Adults- $4
Senior Citizens- $2
Students w/ ID- $1
Children under 12- Free