For Immediate Release
April 26, 2008
Wellesley Sports Information
Wellesley Softball Advances to NEWMAC Championship
WELLESLEY, Mass. -- Wellesley College used a 4-0 win over Wheaton College to advance to the finals of the 2008 New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) Softball Tournament. The win improves Wellesley to 26-6-1 while Wheaton falls to 29-13.
The first four innings of the game featured a pitching dual between Wheaton starter Jody Moynagh (Worcester, Mass.) and Wellesley's Jenna Harvey (London, Ontario). Wheaton's Audrey Poulton (Charseltown, R.I.) picked up the only hit in the first four innings with a single to center in the bottom of the first.
Wellesley broke the scoreless tie in the fifth inning. After two quick outs, Meghan Sullivan (Markam, Ontario) reached on a Wheaton miscue. Harvey followed that up, with a double to deep left center which scored Sulllivan and gave Wellesley the 1-0 lead.
The Blue added three insurance runs in the top of the seventh inning. After a walk from Megan Wood (Jacksonville, Fla.), Shawna McCreadie (Des Plaines, Ill.) advanced her to second on a ground out. Sullivan then singled and stole second to place runners on second and third with one out for Wellesley. Harvey walked to load the bases, which prompted a pitching change for the Lyons.
With Poulton on the mound for Wheaton, the Blue's Alex Coari (Geneva, Ill.) worked an RBI walk, which scored Wood. Amanda Tai (Melrose, Mass.) followed Coari's walk with a double to left center that scored Sullivan and Harvey and gave Wellesley a 4-0 lead.
Harvey retired the side 1-2-3 in the bottom of the seventh to preserve the win for Wellesley. The victory advances the Blue to tomorrow's championship game, beginning at 12:00pm.
Harvey finished with a seven inning two-hit shutout. She struck out seven batters in the win and walked two. For Wheaton, Moynagh pitched 6.1 innings allowing three earned runs on four hits. She struck out six in the loss.
The loss sends Wheaton to the consolation bracket where they will face the winner of Springfield/Clark at 10:00am on Sunday.
The NEWMAC softball tournament continues on Sunday, April 27th with action beginning at Wellesley at 10:00am. Complete tournament information can be found at: athletics/softball/newmac/index.html