Springfield, MA --- Sixth-seeded WPI's unlikely run through the 2024 NEWMAC Softball Tournament continued, as the Engineers knocked off top-seeded and host Springfield, 9-1 in five innings, in Game #8 on Thursday afternoon at Potter Field. WPI (23-18-1) moves on to Saturday's noon game at No.3 MIT and will take on No. 4 Babson in the loser's bracket championship game. The Pride now stand at 29-10-1 and will await postseason selections.
 
WPI's offense pounded out 12 hits in the game and scored in every inning with Destiny Lum (Kahalu'u, HI), Emma Nagy (Monroe, WA), and Virginia McKinney (Larchmont, NY) all driving in two runs. Meg Sherwood (Norfolk, MA) had a three-hit game, collecting a single, double, and a triple while driving in a run. Alex Sheehan(Marion, MA) also added two hits, while Shaina Lazarus (Thousand Oaks, CA) and Riley O'Brien (Wynantskill NY) also added RBI. Lazarus added to her final line with a win in the circle, throwing all five innings, and allowing one run on seven hits.
 
Springfield was paced by Alli Olsen (Ridgewood, NJ) and Amelia DeRosa (Miller Place, NY) who each had two hits, with DeRosa driving in the lone Pride run. DeRosa also took the loss, throwing 2.2 innings, allowing four earned runs on eight hits. Ashley Pugliese (Long Island, NY) came on in relief, tossing 2.1 innings, and allowing three runs on four hits. 
 
WPI struck first, plating a run in its first at-bat. Sydney Russell (Arlington, VA) led off the game with a single and a stolen base and was moved to third on a ground-out. O'Brien then sent a ball deep enough to right field to score Russell for the 1-0 lead.
 
The Engineers pushed it to a 3-0 advantage with two more in the top of the second. A one-out single from Sherwood started the action, while a Lum double and a McKinney single each drove in runs.
 
Springfield got on the board in the bottom of the second. Two-out singles from Raineone and Olsen set up an RBI single from DeRosa, as the Pride made it 3-1.
 
WPI countered with three in the top of the third inning, opening up a five-run advantage. Sheehan and Nagy singled to put two on before Lazarus hit a fly ball in foul territory that was deep enough to score Sheehan. Sherwood then laced a two-out double to center to make it 5-1, while a Lum single pushed it to 6-1.
 
The Engineers continued to score with two more in the top of the fourth inning. With two outs, Sheehan and O'Brien started things with infield singles, before Nagy sent both home on a single to center to make it 8-1.
 
WPI added an insurance run in the top of the fifth, building the lead to eight runs. Sherwood tripled to open the frame and was sent home on a McKinney ground-out.
 
Facing elimination in the bottom of the fifth, Springfield got a two-out walk from Breannah McCann (Poway, CA) who nearly scored on a ball laced down the line from Lucy Puskas (Roxbury, CT). However, the ball was just foul and Lazarus got the final out of the game to continue WPI's season. 
 
Box Score