SPRINGFIELD, Mass. — The Wheaton College (Mass.) softball team could not overcome an eight-run first inning deficit and fell to host Springfield College, 10-2, this afternoon at Potter Field in Springfield, Mass. The game was halted after six innings due to the eight-run mercy rule.

The Lyons conclude their regular season with a 22-16 overall record, including 8-10 in league play, while the Pride improve to 33-7 and 14-4. Both teams will await the announcement from the NEWMAC regarding their respective seeding in the upcoming conference tournament.

Springfield scored eight times in the bottom of the first, before Wheaton scored single runs in the fourth and fifth innings to cut the deficit to 8-2. The Pride answered with single runs in the bottom of the fifth and sixth frames to trigger the mercy rule.

Junior shortstop Lindsey Oliveira (Westport, Mass.) and first year Ashlyn Burt (Olathe, Kan.) collected two of the Lyons' five hits in the game with a solo homer apiece to account for the visitors' runs. Junior catcher Jill Ceddia (Hopkinton, Mass.) reached base twice with a single and a walk in three plate appearances. First year Amber Arcand (Millville, Mass.) suffered the loss, giving up seven runs (six earned) on five hits and two walks in two-thirds of an inning to drop to 8-7 on the season.

Graduate student left fielder Kristen Acocella (Redding, Conn.) belted a pair of doubles and knocked in two runs to go with a pair of runs scored to lead Springfield, while senior shortstop Dana Serricchio (Stamford, Conn.) was 2-3 with two RBI and a run scored. First year starting pitcher Amelia DeRosa (Miller Place, N.Y.) collected three hits, including a double, in four at-bats and knocked in a run. She hurled a six-inning complete game victory to improve to 9-1 and gave up two runs on five hits and a walk to go with five strikeouts.

The first five batters of the first inning all reached base safely as part of the eight-run outburst of the opening frame for the Pride. Senior right fielder Mackenzie Doyle (Glocester, R.I.) led off with a single, followed by a DeRosa single and a walk worked by first year Carissa Pecchia (Mamaroneck, N.Y.) to load the bases with no outs. Junior catcher Callie Gendron (Berlin, Conn.) was issued a walk to force in the game's first run, before Acocella took advantage of the bases loaded situation with a two-run double to the gap in left center. Senior center fielder Maggie Britt (Bridgeport, Conn.) singled to right to plate the fourth Springfield run. Serricchio delivered a two-run single and DeRosa notched her second hit of the inning with an RBI double to give the home team an eight-run advantage.

Oliveira parked her fifth home run of the season over the fence in left center field to put Wheaton on the board at 8-1 in the top of the fourth inning. Burt went yard with her second homer of the year after blasting a shot over the center field fence to pull the Lyons to within 8-2 in the fifth inning.

The Pride added a run in the bottom of the inning on fielder's choice and tacked on the final run in the sixth when Acocella cracked a leadoff double and junior pinch-hitter Lucy Puskas (Roxbury, Conn.) came through with a run-scoring double to center field.