WORCESTER -- Another day, another NEWMAC doubleheader for the WPI softball team who split the duo of games against Emerson on Monday night at Rooftop Field. The Engineers easily took game one, 8-2 behind the pitching of Naomi Boldebuck (Billerica, MA) before dropping game two 6-1.
 
The games were moved a pair of times due to wet weather but WPI (7-8-1) came out on top in game one as Boldebuck picked up her first win her carrer. Boldebuck pitched all seven innings allowing just one earned run while striking out a season high seven batters. 
 
In game two, Emerson (8-10) took advantage of the Engineers early and sealed the deal with a three run sixth inning to force the split. 
 
Riley O'Brien (Wynantskill, NY) and Meg Sherwood (Norfolk, MA) finished game one with a pair of RBIs each. O'Brien was 2-for-4 on the day with a double while Sherwood also finished with a double and a run scored in the win. Alex Sheehan (Marion, MA) picked up a pair of hits and scored a pair of runs in the outing while Sandy Fairbairn (Norton, MA) netted her first triple of the year while scoring a pair of runs. 
 
Game One
The Engineers took game one after a three-run second and sealed the win with a four-run sixth inning. 
 
WPI was the first team to get the offense going after Callie Allison (Milford, OH) reached after an Emerson fielding error and then took off for second on a wild pitch. Fairbairn walked and then Sydney Russell (Arlington, VA) followed up with a single up the middle to bring home Allison and put Fairbairn on third. 
 
Kate Gagne (Portsmouth, NH) laid down a sacrifice bunt, not only reaching first safely but driving in Fairbairn. Virginia McKinney (Larchmont, NY) grounded out to second base and on the play Russell raced around the bases to go from second to home, making it a 3-0 game. 
 
Emerson got one back in the top of the fourth, but WPI responded with a run of its own in the fifth when Sheehan started things off with a single to the pitcher, stole second, moved up to third on a Sherwood ground out and then came home on a single up the middle from O'Brien to make it a 4-1 game. 
 
The Engineers tacked on another four runs in the sixth to put the game out of reach. Fairbairn started the inning off with a triple to right center, eventually coming around to score on the play after a throwing error from the Emerson right fielder. McKinney got herself on base, and Sheehan followed with a single setting up Sherwood for a double to centerfield that brought them both home. O'Brien followed that up with a double to center to bring home Sherwood and make it an 8-1 game. 
 
Emerson was able to get one back in the seventh but it would not be enough as WPI started the evening off with the victory.
 
Game Two
Emerson struck first in game two as Kaitlyn Barr (Grosse Pointe Woods, MI) got settled onto the mound, taking advantage of some WPI miscues to make it a 2-0 game in the first inning. 
 
The Lions put another on the board using some small ball to take a 3-0 lead, but WPI answered with its first run of the game in the third inning. Russell singled up the middle and then stole second. On a double to left center from Destiny Lum (Kahalu'u, HI), Russell came home to erase the shutout bid and make it a 3-1 game. 
 
Emerson piled on another trio of runs in the top of the sixth to put things out of range for the Engineers as the two teams split the doubleheader. Barr finished the game pitching two innings and allowing three runs, striking out three and walking four. Shaina Lazarus (Thousand Oaks, CA) finished out the game allowing another three runs over five innings, walking one and striking out another three Lions. 
 
Next Up
WPI is back in action on Friday, April 12 when the team heads to Springfield to take on the Pride for a NEWMAC doubleheader beginning at 3:30pm. Emerson is back on the field tomorrow, Tuesday, April 9 with a non-conference doubleheader when they play host to UMass Boston starting at 3pm.