Wellesley, MA --- Wellesley College softball dropped a pair of two-run games in its home and NEWMAC opener with WPI on Saturday. The Engineers' hot start continued as the team remained undefeated at 12-0 Overall and 2-0 in NEWMAC play. The Blue fell to 6-5 Overall and 0-2 in conference games.
 
Game 1 | WPI 5, Wellesley 3 | Final
 
A series of walks and hit batters allowed WPI to immediately put two on the board in the top of the first. The team never fell behind after that in a 5-3 victory.
 
Junior Naomi Boldebuck (Billerica, MA) picked up the win for the Engineers, throwing all seven innings with two strikeouts and eight hits given up.  Junior Sarah Wicker (Ponte Vedra Beach, FA) pitched the complete-game for the Blue. Wicker struck out three in the losing effort with five hits, three walks and a trio of k's to show for the performance.
 
In the top of the first, senior Emma Nagy (Monroe, WA) and junior Sandy Fairbairn (Norton, MA) recorded the RBIs while junior Virginia McKinney (Larchmont, N) and sophomore Lucy Latour (North Dighton, MA) came across to score.
 
WPI added a pair of runs in the third. After sophomore Ariana Kreuzer (Walpole, MA) walked to get on base, senior Meg Sherwood (Norfolk, MA) smashed a two-run dinger over the left-center fence.
 
The Blue retaliated with a pair of its own runs in the bottom of the third. Sophomore Natalie Nicol (Crockett, Texas) opened the inning with a single. Junior Anisa Rodriguez (La Quinta, CA) put two runners in scoring position. A single to right-center by senior Emeline Gaunce (Palo Alto, CA) gave Wellesley its first run with Nicol coming in. Rodriguez later made the most of a run-down and scored the Blue's second run.
 
The visitors increased the margin to 5-2 with a run in the fourth. Latour scored for the second time in the contest when senior Destiny Lum (Kahalu'u, Hawaii) slapped a RBI single to center. Wellesley responded in the same inning with one run of its own. Wicker helped her own cause with a single that plated first-year Brooklyn Awad (Montclair, N.J.).
 
Game 2 | WPI 2, Wellesley 0 | Final
 
First-year Abby Merchant (Rancho Cucamonga, CA) pitched a gem in a complete-game shutout. Merchant improved to 6-0 on the year, scattering seven hits with three strikeouts and stranding seven on base.  Fellow rookie Lauren Seyller (South Elgin, IL) started the game, giving the Blue five innings in the circle with two runs and three hits allowed. Junior Jill Colgan (Las Vegas, NV) came in, tossing two scoreless innings with three punchouts.
 
Lum gave the Engineers an early edge in game two with a RBI single that allowed McKinney to come in from second base.
 
Nagy doubled the lead in the top of the fourth with a monster solo shot over the center field fence.
 
Despite multi-hit games from Rodriguez and senior Andrea Delgado (Miami, FL), the Blue was unable to muster up any runs.
 
Up next, the Engineers welcome Emmanuel to Worcester for their home-opening twinbill on Tuesday at 3:30pm while the Blue host Brandeis in a non-conference doubleheader on Wednesday at 3pm.
 
Release Courtesy Wellesley Sports Information
 
Game 1 Box Score
 
Game 2 Box Score