NORTON, Mass. – The Wheaton College (Mass.) softball team was defeated by visiting Clark University, 2-1, this afternoon in the first game of a New England Women's & Men's Athletic Conference doubleheader at Clark Softball Field on the Wheaton campus in Norton, Mass.
The Lyons dip to 18-5 overall and 3-2 in NEWMAC play, while the Cougars improve to 11-10 and 2-3.
The teams combined for just seven hits on the day.
Junior first base Peyton Blakenheim-Brown (Rio Linda, Calif.) was 2-3 for Wheaton and sophomore shortstop Ella Molinari (Grafton, Mass.) supplied the only run for the Lyons with a solo homer. Sophomore third base Emma Boucher (Derry, N.H.) also contributed, going 1-2 with a walk and a stolen base. Sophomore starting hurler Sofia De La Rosa (Middle Village, N.Y.) was saddled with the loss to drop to 9-3 after surrendering only two runs (one earned) on three hits and four walks to go with nine strikeouts in seven frames.
Sophomore starting pitcher Megan Dube (Leominster, Mass.) allowed just one run on four hits and drove in the eventual game-winning run to lead Clark. Dube issued a pair of walks and struck out four in seven complete innings to improve to 6-6 on the season. She was 2-3 at the plate with a run scored. Third base Rebecca Mauro (Easton, Conn.) collected the other hit for the visitors in a 1-3 effort with a run scored.
The Cougars got on the board with a run in the top of the second to take a 1-0 edge. Clark loaded the bases with two outs after Dube opened the frame with a single to left and first year shortstop Gricelda Castro (Boston, Mass.) and junior center fielder Emelie Spence (Margate, Fla.) each drew walks. Dube was caught off of third base following the pitch to the plate, inviting a throw to third by the Wheaton catcher, but the third baseman was unable to come up with the throw, enabling Dube to scamper home with the first run of the day.
The Cougars took advantage of another Lyon miscue in the top of the third with two outs to add an insurance run to their lead. Mauro served a single to left and moved into scoring position on the wild pitch, before Dube delivered a run-scoring single to left to plate Clark's second run.
Wheaton got a run back in the bottom of the fourth with one swing of the bat to pull within 2-1. Molinari led off the frame by crushing a pitch over the left field fence for her second home run of the season.
The Lyons looked to rally for the tying run in the sixth, but came up short with runners on second and third base. Blankenheim-Brown ripped a single to the right-center gap and Boucher later punched a single to center to put runners on the corners, before Boucher stole second. Dube was able to get a called strike three to end the threat and get out of the jam.
The teams meet again later today in game two at Clark Softball Field.
