Kissimmee, FL --- The WPI softball team opened its 2026 season with a doubleheader sweep of Montclair State on Tuesday at the Fortune Road Athletic Complex as part of THE Spring Games. The Engineers claimed a 3-2 victory in the opener before edging the Red Hawks 3-2 again in game two to improve to 2-0 on the season. Montclair State drops to 2-4 with the pair of losses.
 
Game One
WPI rallied from an early two-run deficit to edge Montclair State 3-2 in the opener.
 
Naomi Boldebuck (Billerica, MA) earned the complete-game victory, allowing two runs (one earned) on seven hits while striking out five. Sandy Fairbairn (Norton, MA) led the Engineers offensively with two hits and the go-ahead RBI, while Emma Nagy (Monroe, WA) added two hits and an RBI. Meg Sherwood (Norfolk, MA) scored the winning run in the sixth inning.
 
Montclair State was led by Ashley Palmieri (Toms River, NJ), who went 3-for-3 at the plate, while Jordyn Hester (Hampton, VA) drove in a run with an RBI single. Brooke McHale (Jersey City, NJ) took the loss for the Red Hawks.
 
Montclair State struck first in the opening inning when Hester delivered an RBI single that scored Liz Mullen (South Brunswick, NJ).
 
The Red Hawks added another run in the second when Sophia Alonso (Tinton Falls, NJ) reached on a fielder's choice that brought home Palmieri for a 2-0 advantage.
 
WPI cut the deficit in half in the bottom of the second. Nagy reached earlier in the inning and came home when Grace Grant (Orlando, FL) stole second and the throw from the catcher sailed into the outfield.
 
The Engineers tied the contest in the third when Fairbairn singled and later scored on an RBI single up the middle from Nagy.
 
WPI took the lead in the sixth inning. Sherwood singled to begin the rally and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by Liz Jordan (Yardley, PA). Fairbairn followed with an RBI single to left that plated Sherwood for the 3-2 lead.
 
Boldebuck closed the door in the seventh, retiring the final three batters to secure the victory.
 
Game Two
WPI again relied on early offense and another complete-game pitching performance to take the nightcap 3-2 and complete the sweep.
 
Abby Merchant (Rancho Cucamonga, CA) earned the win, allowing two runs on five hits while striking out six over seven innings. Lucy Latour (North Dighton, MA) delivered the key hit with a two-run triple, while Meg Sherwood (Norfolk, MA) and Ali Chalovich (Pittsburgh, PA) each scored a run for the Engineers.
 
Montclair State was paced by Carlee Iannone (Middletown, NJ), who delivered a two-run single in the sixth inning, while Bella Stagliano (East Brunswick, NJ) took the loss in the circle.
 
The Engineers struck first in the opening inning. Fairbairn doubled down the left-field line and later scored when Jordan reached on a Montclair State error to make it 1-0.
 
WPI added two more runs in the second. Chalovich walked and Sherwood singled before Latour ripped a triple to right field that brought both runners home and pushed the lead to 3-0.
 
Merchant kept the Red Hawks off the board through the first five innings before Montclair State mounted a rally in the sixth. Alonso singled and Mullen reached before Iannone lined a two-run single to right center to cut the deficit to 3-2.
 
Merchant regrouped to retire the final four batters of the game, sealing the complete-game victory and the Engineers' second win of the day.
 
WPI continues play at THE Spring Games on Wednesday with a doubleheader against Aurora (IL) at 10:00 am and Penn State Berks (PA) at 12:15 pm. Montclair State also returns to action Wednesday with games against Catholic University and Carlow.
 
Game 1 Box Score
 
Game 2 Box Score