WORCESTER -- After a shutout in game one of the day, the WPI softball team earned a come-from-behind game two victory in a conference opening doubleheader on Sunday afternoon against Babson College at Rooftop Field.  

The Engineers (7-11, 1-1 NEWMAC) fell in game one 2-0 after some pitching prowess by Babson's Moira O'Reilly (Columbus, OH), but bounced back in game two to earn a 9-7 victory, and the team's first conference win of the year.  

Alicia Salvalzo (Hudson, NH) was a double shy of the cycle during the game two victory beginning things with an RBI, following up with a triple and knocking out a single in the fourth inning. Salvalzo was 3-for-3 on the day with a walk, while Destiny Lum (Kahaluʻu, HI) was 3-for-4 with a pair of RBIs and a run scored. 

GAME ONE 

Babson came away with a 2-0 game one victory putting the two runs on the board in the sixth inning en route to the victory. After five scoreless innings in a pitching duel between Sophia Togneri (Hudson, MA) and O'Reilly, Babson was able to get its first two runners on base in the top of the sixth inning, and despite Togneri getting the next two batters out, Lexi Morris (Lexington, MA) played hero with a single to right center that scored the ultimate game-winning run.  

Togneri finished the game with just four hits allowed and the two earned runs while striking out two in seven complete innings pitched. O'Reilly finished with the no-hitter, striking out 15 en route to the win.  

GAME TWO 

The bats came alive in game two as Babson was able to put a pair of runs up in the first inning of action and tacked on another trio of runs in the second inning before WPI earned its first run of the day in the bottom half of the frame with an Salvalzo roundtripper to leftfield.  

Babson got that run back in the third, but Babson was able to answer back in the bottom half with a pair of runs. Sydney Russell (Arlington, VA) reached via a fielder's choice and moved up to second on a stolen base and with two outs on the board, came around to score on a Lum single up the middle. Lum came around to touch home plate one batter later as Salvalzo ripped a triple to right center to make it a 6-3 game.  

The Engineers evened the score in the fourth inning. After a pitching change, Emma Nagy (Monroe, WA) started things off with a walk, followed by a double to center from Jocelyn Diaz (Reedley, CA). Nagy came around to score on a single through the left side from Alex Sheehan (Marion, MA). After Mia Francisco (Hudson, NH) stepped in to pinch run, she came across to score on a single to center from Liz Jordan (Yardley, PA) making it a 6-5 game. The Engineers evened the score thanks to a wild pitch making it 6-all through four innings.  

Babson was able to reclaim the lead in the sixth inning on a single to center from Molly Hennessey (Tallahassee, FL) but the Engineers did not go down without a fight, rallying in the bottom of the sixth and coming away with the victory.  

Russell started things off with a single and promptly stole second followed by a Lindsay Ambrosino (Chelmsford, MA) walk. Lum's power came through with a double to right to drive in Russell to tie the game at 7-all. After a Babson pitching change, Salvalzo drew a walk to load the bases, which set up Kelly Pritchard (Orange, CT) who sent a sacrifice fly to right to score the game-winning run as Ambrosino crossed the plate.  

For good measure, Nagy sent a double down the leftfield line bringing home Meg Sherwood (Norfolk, MA), who stepped in to pinch run, and seal the victory.  

UP NEXT

WPI has a full weekend the next time out beginning with a Friday doubleheader at Coast Guard beginning at 3pm followed by a Saturday doubleheader at Wheaton College beginning at Noon. Babson is also back in conference action with a full weekend beginning Friday against Wheaton at 3pm before hosting Smith at Noon.