NORTON, Mass. — The Wheaton College (Mass.) softball team exploded for eight runs in the bottom of the sixth to come away with a 10-4 victory in game one over visiting Wellesley College this afternoon in a New England Women's & Men's Athletic Conference doubleheader at the Clark Softball Field on the Wheaton campus in Norton, Mass.

The Lyons improve to 15-8 overall and 5-2 in NEWMAC play, while the Blue fall to 2-16-1 and 0-5.

Wellesley pushed the first four runs of the day across with single runs in the first and third innings and a pair in the fifth to take a 4-0 lead, before Wheaton got on the board with two runs in the bottom of the fifth to cut the margin to 4-2. The Lyons hung an eight-spot on their guests in the sixth to put the game away.

Sophomore right fielder Jillian Rohon (Southington, Conn.) was 2-3 with a solo home run and two runs scored for Wheaton, while junior catcher Jill Ceddia (Hopkinton, Mass.) was 2-2 with two walks, a run scored and a run batted in. Junior second base Bryanna Agan (Averill Park, N.Y.) and Lily Platt (Hallowell, Maine) each registered a hit and knocked in a run. First year relief pitcher Brittany Dost (Centereach, N.Y.) earned the win after hurling two and two-thirds innings of three-hit scoreless ball to go with a pair of walks to improve to 2-0.

First year third base Chiara Lundin (Piedmont, Calif.) led the Blue, going 3-4 with two runs batted in, a double and a run scored and first year second base Andrea Delgado (Miami, Fla.) was 3-4 with a double, an RBI and two runs scored. Sophomore reliever Kate Liston (Boulder, Colo.) was charged with the loss after giving up three runs on two hits and a walk in two-thirds of an inning to drop to 1-4 on the year.

The Lyons faced a 4-2 deficit with two innings to go before they took advantage of three Wellesley miscues, combined with five hits, and registered eight runs in the bottom of the sixth to take the lead for good at 10-4. 

The first six batters of the inning all reached, including the first five by hit or a walk, resulting in four runs. Ceddia reached on an infield single to shortstop, sophomore center fielder Grace DiBacco (Selkirk, N.Y.) drew a walk, followed by a single from Rohon and first year Ashlyn Burt (Olathe, Kan.) worked a base on balls to force in the third run of the game for Wheaton. Platt roped a single to center field to plate DiBacco and Rohon was right behind her when the throw from the outfield sailed well over the catcher to give the Lyons their first lead of the game at 5-4. Junior third base Amanda Bogardus (Saco, Maine) reached base on a dribbler back to the pitcher that couldn't be handled to score another run, before junior shortstop Lindsey Oliveira (Westport, Mass.) later reached on an infield error to score two more runs and give the home team an 8-4 margin. Ceddia beat out her second infield single of the frame to knock in another run, before Wheaton closed the scoring when Oliveira scored on the front end of a double-steal, while Ceddia was caught up in a rundown between first and second.

The Blue loaded the bases in the seventh, but Dost was able to induce a harmless popup to shortstop to end the threat and give the Lyons the victory.

Wellesley manufactured its first run in the opening inning when senior shortstop Ingrid Hsu (San Ramon, Calif.) was hit by a pitch to lead off the game, went to second on a sacrifice fly and hustled all the way from second to score on a ground out to second base. 

The Blue added another run in the third to take a 2-0 lead. Delgado singled to left, sophomore Lauren Young (Fresno, Calif.) received a free pass and Lundin laced a single up the middle to bring home Delgado with their second run.

Wellesley doubled its lead again with two more runs in the fifth to make it 4-0. Delgado smacked a double to the left field fence, before Lundin singled her home. Lundin later scored herself after first year first base Emeline Gaunce (Los Altos, Calif.) ripped a double down the left field line and junior right fielder Julz Vargas (Los Angeles, Calif.) reached on a fielder's choice with the bases loaded to knock her in.