WELLESLEY, Mass. -- The Wheaton College (Mass.) softball team was defeated, 2-1, by host Wellesley College in game one of a New England Women's & Men's Athletic Conference doubleheader this afternoon at the Wellesley Softball Field in Wellesley, Mass. The Lyons slip to 12-11 overall and 3-4 in league play, while the Blue improve to 2-16 and 1-6.

Wellesley scored single runs in the third and fifth innings for all the offense it needed.

First year outfielder Juliette Zito (Woodbridge, Conn.) was 1-3 with a triple and a run scored for Wheaton, while senior catcher Lexi Lovell (Dighton, Mass.) was 1-3 with a double. Senior starting pitcher Sarah Pritchard (Malta, N.Y.) (3-5) was saddled with the loss after giving up two runs (one earned) on four hits.

Senior Hayley Moniz (Westfield, Mass.) led the Blue, going 2-2 with a run batted in and senior Marisa Hensch (Carlsbad, Calif.) was 1-2 with a home run. Junior starter Marisa Sgambati (Scottsdale, Ariz.) (1-5) earned her first win of the season after allowing one unearned run on just four hits and a walk to go with two strikeouts.

Wellesley broke into the scoring column with the benefit of an error in the bottom of the third inning to take a 1-0 lead. Sophomore right fielder Elli DeCleene (North Reading, Mass.) reached on an error to open the inning and later scored on a two-out single to left field off the bat of Moniz. 

Hensch gave the Blue a 2-0 lead with her first homer of the season on a blast over the left center field fence.

The Lyons took advantage of two errors to get a run back in the top of the sixth to cut their deficit in half at 2-1. Zito reached on an error and later scored on a wild pitch. Senior shortstop Katelyn Barton (Andover, N.H.) reached on a fielder's choice during the frame and stole second before going to third on the same wild pitch that scored Zito, but was stranded when Sgambati got out of the jam with a called third strike to end the inning.

Wellesley threatened for some insurance runs in its half of the sixth when Moniz was hit by a pitch to open the inning, Sgambati singled and first year first base Lauren Young (Fresno, Calif.) drew a one-out walk to load the bases. Wheaton sophomore reliever Sofia Knopf (Norton, Mass.) was able to escape without any damage after inducing a pair of infield pop-ups. 

The Lyons were unable to carry the high from getting out of the previous inning unscathed into their final at-bat as the Blue held on for the victory.

Wheaton threatened to get on the board first when Zito tripled to right center, but was cut down at the plate, trying to score on a sacrifice fly to end the first inning.