SPRINGFIELD, Mass. — The Wheaton College (Mass.) softball team fell to host Springfield College, 10-4, this morning in the first game of a New England Women's & Men's Athletic Conference doubleheader at Potter Field in Springfield, Mass.

The Lyons fall to 22-15 overall and 8-9 in league play, while the Pride improve to 32-7 and 13-4.

Wheaton scored a run in the top of the third to tie the game at 3-3, before Springfield broke the game open with six runs in the bottom of the frame to take a 9-3 advantage. Both teams scored a run each in the sixth to set the final at 10-4.

Sophomore center fielder Grace DiBacco (Selkirk, N.Y.) led the Lyons at the plate, going 3-4 with a pair of doubles and two runs batted in, while sophomore left fielder Juliette Zito (Woodbridge, Conn.) was 1-3 with a double, a walk and an RBI. First year third base Amber Arcand (Millville, Mass.) was also 1-3 with a double and a run batted in and first year first base Lily Platt (Hallowell, Maine) reached base in all three plate appearances with a walk and two singles. Junior starting pitcher Sofia Knopf (Norton, Mass.) took the loss to fall to 10-7 after allowing nine runs (five earned) on nine hits and two walks, while striking out three batters.

First year Carissa Pecchia (Mamaroneck, N.Y.) led the Pride with a 3-3 effort, including a double, two RBI, a walk and a run scored. First year first base Amelia DeRosa (Miller Place, N.Y.) was 3-5 with a double, three runs scored and a run batted in and senior shortstop Dana Serricchio (Stamford, Conn.) was 3-4 with a double, a run batted in and two runs scored. Graduate student starting pitcher Gillian Kane (New Canaan, Conn.) earned the win to improve to 12-4, allowing four runs on nine hits and five walks in addition to fanning two batters in six innings.

All nine batters reached base in succession in the bottom of the third for Springfield, including a pair of errors charged to Wheaton. Serricchio singled home the first run of the inning and the fourth of the game for Springfield to give the home team a 4-3 edge. Pecchia and junior catcher Callie Gendron (Berlin, Conn.) followed with run-scoring singles to plate two more runs. Junior second base Alli Olsen (Ridgewood, N.J.) also knocked in a run with a single up the middle to give the home team a 9-3 lead. 

The Lyons got a run back in the sixth when Platt singled to center field and came around to score on a double to right-center field off the bat of Arcand to pull them to within 9-4. The Pride matched the run in the bottom of the inning when Serricchio served an RBI single to right field to give Springfield a six-run advantage.

Wheaton got on the board first when Zito led off the game with a walk, before junior shortstop Lindsey Oliveira (Westport, Mass.) singled to right field to put runners on the corners with one out. DiBacco later followed with an RBI double to right center to give the Lyons a 1-0 edge. 

The Pride responded with a run in the bottom of the inning to knot the score at 1-1. DeRosa cracked a one-out double to left and later scored when junior left fielder Michaela Ponticello (Gloversville, N.Y.) reached on an infield single.

Springfield scored twice in the second to take a 3-1 lead. Serricchio cranked a double to left center and came around to score ahead of a DeRosa single to left field. Pecchia also came through with a double to center to plate the third run for the Pride.

Wheaton pulled to within a run in the third to make it 3-2. Junior second base Bryanna Agan (Averill Park, N.Y.) drew a walk, before scoring on a double to left center off the bat of DiBacco. The Lyons tied the game in the fourth with the benefit of another double. Platt reached on an infield single and Zito hit one of the five doubles in the game for Wheaton to knock in Platt with the equalizer.