NORTON, MASS. -- The Wheaton College (Mass.) softball team couldn't overcome a four-run first inning by visiting Massachusetts Institute of Technology in a 6-3 loss this afternoon in game one of a New England Women's & Men's Athletic Conference twinbill at the Clark Softball Field on the Wheaton campus in Norton, Mass. The Lyons fall to 17-12 overall and 6-5 in league play, while the Engineers improve to 19-11 and 8-3.

MIT scored four times in the first and added single runs in the fourth and fifth innings, before Wheaton scored three combined runs in the fifth and sixth innings.

Senior shortstop Katelyn Barton (Andover, N.H.) was 2-4 with a run scored, while classmate Tristan Keller (Plymouth, N.H.) was 2-3 with a double for Wheaton. Senior right-handed starting pitcher Sarah Pritchard (Malta, N.Y.) (5-6) gave up six runs (two earned) on eight hits and two bases on balls in five innings for the Lyons.  

First year Kennedy Adkison (San Jose, Calif.) was 2-3 with a walk and a run scored, while sophomore Katia Pendowski (Elk Grove Village, Ill.) hit a two-run double for the Engineers. First year Mackenzie Bivin (San Diego, Calif.) also had two hits and knocked in a run. Senior left-hander Anya Chase allowed three runs on five hits and three walks while striking out five in five and two-thirds innings of work to improve to 9-5 for the Engineers. 

MIT took advantage of two errors to score four runs in the top of the first inning to take the lead for good. The first five Engineer batters reached base, including two on infield errors. Pendowski made the Lyons pay with a two-run double to give the visitors a 3-0 lead. MIT added another run on a ground out to take a 4-0 lead. 

The Engineers tacked on single runs in the fourth and fifth frames to increase their cushion to 6-0. Adkison opened the fourth with a single down the right field line and later went to third following a single from Bivin to put runners on the corners with one out. Adkison later scampered home on a sacrifice fly to right field off the bat of junior Jordan Sell (Schwenksville, Pa.). MIT scored its final run on a run-scoring single up the middle from Bivin for a six-run advantage.

The Lyons matched the run in the bottom of the fifth to cut the deficit to 6-1. Keller smacked a single to right center and was lifted for senior pinch-runner Lilly Laganiere (Rochester, N.H.). Laganiere moved to second on a ground out and to third on a wild pitch, before sophomore Grace DiBacco (Selkirk, N.Y.) drew a one-out walk to put runners on the corners. DiBacco got caught in a run-down between first and second that allowed Laganiere to score Wheaton's first run, while DiBacco safely returned to first. 

The Lyons scored twice in the sixth and again got a run on a steal of home. Barton and sophomore Lindsey Oliveira (Westport, Mass.) both singled to open the inning with Barton going to third on Oliveira's knock. Oliveira drew a throw to second and was caught in a run-down, allowing Barton to score on a throw to the plate, while Barton pulled into second with a stolen base. Oliveira advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on a ground out from Pritchard to pull the home team to within 6-3, but it was as close as Wheaton would get.