Box Score Norton, MA --- In a rematch of last weekend's season-ending doubleheader sweep, Wheaton got its revenge on the WPI softball team on Wednesday afternoon in the teams NEWMAC Championship opening game.
In the final weekend of the regular season, WPI (24-15) swept the Lyons (25-12) to clinch fourth place in the NEWMAC standings. On Wednesday, Wheaton was able to shut out the Engineers, 6-0.
With the loss WPI now needs to win five games over the last three days of the tournament for a shot at the Championship title. The Engineers are back in action on Thursday, May 8 at noon and will play the loser of this afternoon's Babson/Springfield tournament game. The rest of the tournament is slated for MIT.
Naomi Boldebuck, (Billerica, MA) who pitched both games of last weekend's doubleheader, took the loss on Wednesday, throwing the first three innings of action while allowing seven hits and three runs before being relieved by
Sofia Knopf (Plymouth, MA) who pitched the final four innings of action, allowing just three hits and three runs while also striking out three in the loss.
WPI was held to seven hits on the day with
Liz Jordan (Yardley, PA) leading the way with a pair of hits coming in the second and seventh innings.
Wheaton got on the board first in the first inning putting a pair of runs on the board using some small ball to seal the deal. The Lyons built a 3-0 advantage in the third as
Grace DiBacco (Selkirk, NY) tripled to start off the inning and came home on a sacrifice fly from
Ella Molinari (Grafton, MA).
In the fifth, Wheaton added another one and put up a pair of insurance runs in the sixth behind a two-run shot from
Jillian Rohon (Southington, CT) to seal the victory.
WPI left a trio of runners on base in the first inning but Wheaton was able to pick up a trio of 1-2-3 innings through the final six innings of action to earn the shutout, marking the first shutout of the season for the Engineers. WPI entered the game scoring 247 runs on the season, second in the conference behind MIT (257).
With the loss WPI now needs to win five games over the last three days of the tournament for a shot at the Championship title. The Engineers are back in action on Thursday, May 8 at Noon and will play the loser of today's Babson/Springfield tournament game. Wheaton moves on to the winner's bracket and immediately returned to the diamond to faceoff against No. 1 MIT at 4:30 pm Wednesday.
